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Regimental badge, Battle Flags of the Tenth and drum, a relic of the Mexican War, 
on which "Drummer-boy" Walker learned to play; also drum-sticks given him June 
29, '61, by Capt. Fred Barton and used by Walker through three years of service. 



THE TENTH REGIMENT 

MASSACHUSETTS 
VOLUNTEER INFANTRY 

1861 - 1864 



A WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS 
REGIMENT 



BY 

ALFRED S. ROE 

A VETERAN OF THE CIVIL WAR 



Regimental Committee on History 

John "W. Hersey, Chairman, Joel H. Hendrick, Secretary 

Geo. W. Anderson, Homer G. Gilmore, 

James R. Howes, 

Myron P. Walker, Stephen C. Warriner 



PUBLISHED BY THE 

TENTH REGIMENT VETERAN ASSOCIATION 
SPRINGFIELD, MASS. 
1909 



^ 



\^ 






Copyrighted 1909 

BY THE 

TENTH REGIMENT MASSACHUSETTS 

VOLUNTEER INFANTRY 

ASSOCIATION. 

Springfield, - Mass. 



Press of The F. A. Basseite Co., Springfield, Mass. 



LI3RARY of CONGRESS 
Two CoDles Received 

JUM 24 t»U^ 



PREFACE. 

There must be something pecuHar in the man who is not 
ready to maintain that his own home is the very best pos- 
sible — in like manner there must be something lacking in the 
Union veteran who does not hold his regiment the bravest 
and truest that ever wore the blue, who does not narrate the 
services of that organization so regularly, eloquently and 
persistently that listeners wonder that any member came 
home alive and what other bodies could have been doing while 
the — st or — th was putting down the Rebellion. 

While the survivors of the Tenth Massachusetts Volunteer 
Infantry do not claim that their regiment was Primus inter 
pares (First among equals), they do maintain that there was 
none any better and that its rank and file were as truly repre- 
sentative of the real American spirit as any that followed the 
Flag for the maintenance of the Union. 

Though the day is far spent, and the great majority of the 
men who constituted the membership of the Tenth are today 
sleeping the sleep that knows no waking, yet the surviving 
scant fifth of the aggregate, deeming it desirable that the 
recital of their own and their deceased comrades' services 
should have permanent lodgment by the side of similar stories 
of other regiments, at this late day, almost half a century 
after enlistment, avail themselves of the munificent offer* 
of the Commonwealth and the generous contributions of 
friends, and add this volume to the array of similar narratives 
of loyalty, endurance and sacrifice. 

The body of the work tells the story of the Regiment as a 
whole; the Roster recites the brief summary of more than 
twelve hundred men, every one as dear as life itself to some 
home, more or less distant. Just as far as care and persever- 
ance could take the inquirer, so far have those concerned in 
the volume carried the investigations concerning those who, 
so long ago, drank with them from the same canteen and 
with them bivouacked on the old camp ground. To those 
who in any way contributed to the fullness of this Roster 
thanks from many directions are due and they are hereby 
rendered. 

The foundation of the history is the volume put forth by 
Capt. J. K. Newell in 1875, the result of several years of 
careful labor, interminable letter writing, the turning of the 



*The Commonwealth purchases 500 copies of regimental histories 
of specified size and character to be distributed among the public 
Libraries of the state. 



4 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

War files of many newspapers and all the personal interviews 
that he could secure. This story, modified, revised and 
extended, forms the basis of a new and later recital of services 
that grow even brighter in the perspective of intervening 
years. To Captain Newell's story are added extracts from 
the diaries of Corporals S. H. Hindley, "H," and Theo. Sar- 
gent, "K," printed in H. M. Tower's History of Spencer, also 
data from diary of J. W. Hersey, "H," with many incidents 
and facts, for the first time told in print by survivors who, 
to the plea for assistance, have sent in personal contributions, 
always the spice of the more solid dish. 

A study of the data, afforded in the Roster, will reveal many 
interesting items to those curiously incHned. They will find 
there a remarkable instance of homogeneity, in that officers 
and men were almost entirely of American birth, and while 
few of them claimed educational advantages beyond those 
of the public schools, yet still less were obhged to sign their 
enlistment papers by "his mark." No regiment better 
appreciated the opportunities of Uncle Sam's postal system 
and more regularly communicated with friends at home, while 
reading matter by the pouchful, from the home land, found 
eager recipients among these church and school reared 
soldiers. 

At the front, only praises followed every year of regimental 
service. Whether the men were drilling and building forts, 
marching, on picket duty, camping, skirmishing or in the 
battle fine, where were they found other than faithful? From 
their baptism of blood at Fair Oaks, through two full years 
of battle din, to the final scenes in front of Petersburg, every 
day's duty was faithfully discharged. On their battle flags 
are inscribed the names of some of the fiercest encounters 
of the war, but their first was their severest trial. Their 
aggregate losses entitle the Regiment to a place among the 
"Three Hundred Fighting Regiments" enumerated by Wm. 
F. Fox in his famous work, where a total loss of 134 killed 
and mortally wounded is essential for entrance. The Regi- 
ment's percentage of loss was eleven per cent and, while at 
Spottsylvania, out of 280 engaged, 26 were lost, a percentage 
of twelve plus. This is all the more conspicuous in that the 
Regiment received only two hundred recruits, hence a rela- 
tively small number of men from whom losses could come. 
Their actual service at the front was only a little more than 
two years, and their muster-out, at the end of the three years, 
did not give the extra time had by many regiments for con- 
tinuous battle losses. 



Preface 5 

Readers of this volume will search in vain for the story of 
the war, that is the field of more extended works ; this is just 
the history of a single regiment, keeping as near the individual 
as possible from start to finish. Incidentally, other similar 
organizations are mentioned and historical scenes, places and 
persons are noted at intervals, but everywhere and at all 
times the impression is pronounced that the story is specific 
rather than general. The narrator has had the efficient aid 
of the committee appointed by their comrades to supervise 
the compilation and publication. Messrs. Anderson, Gilmore 
(until his lamented death), Hendrick, Hersey, Howes, Walker 
and Warriner have faithfully cooperated in every possible 
way to aid and advance the work. 

The reader will observe that an unusual number of por- 
traits embellish the book. The originals of these faces were 
secured from divers directions and distances. Many of them 
were crumpled and dimmed by time and carelessness, yet each 
one as precious as gold to the possessor. Varying in size and 
vividness, the engraver has done his best to bring out the 
qualities of resemblance the pictures once possessed; the 
four groups of officers' heads are reduced from the wood 
cuts with which Captain Newell adorned his book of almost 
thirty-five years ago. 

The surviving veterans of the Tenth, together with their 
friends and those of the majority already in the other world, 
are indebted to a wide range of people who have helped in the 
preparation of this book. The helpers include, not only the 
History Committee, but Major Knight and Lieutenant Eaton 
who listened to the reading of the story in manuscript and the 
former gave his working hours for months to the elaboration 
of data in the Roster of Company E ; to Lieutenant Darby 
for his labors in looking up the facts for Company B ; the 
Company Committee of Company H for the thorough manner 
in which the particulars of that organization were presented; 
to J. W. Hersey for his war-time diary; and to H. A. Tower 
of the Band for the admirable work he did in looking up the 
record of his fellow musicians. Finally, every one who directly 
or indirectly helped on the development of this history of the 
Regiment is entitled to the heartiest thanks of every survivor 
and friend. 



ALFRED S. ROE. 
Worcester, March, 1909. 




Col. H. L. Eustis, 
Capt. E. E. Day. Maj. O. Miller, Lt. Col. J. M. Decker, 

Lieut. B. F. Leland, Sergt. Maj. E. K. Wilcox, Lt. A. E. Munyan. 
(From wood cut in Newell's History.) 



SPRINGFIELD 

Western Massachusetts! The words arouse thoughts of 
the hills of Berkshire and the Connecticut River as it courses 
through the counties of FrankHn, Hampshire and Hampden. 
The western boundary is readily given and, properly, its 
eastern is the Hne which separates these three counties from 
Worcester. In area, this section of the Commonwealth is 
somewhat more than one-third of Massachusetts, its popula- 
tion in 1860, a trifle under one-seventh of the total; and its 
valuation, one-eleventh. In furnishing soldiers, population 
not area counts, and comparison with the aggregates collated 
by Adjutant General Wm. Schouler shows that the western 
part of the Commonwealth, in its outpouring of loyal, patriotic 
men, was fully up to the record of the eastern and central 
portions and, in expenditures for the raising of troops and 
caring for dependent families, there was not the slightest 
faUing off. Naturally the militia companies nearest Boston 
were earliest able to respond to the first call for troops, and 
only the Allen Guards of Pittsfield were found in the April 
answer to the President's demand, but regrets over the en- 
forced delay were many and loud. 

The Tenth Regiment of the State Militia was entirely a 
Western Massachusetts organization. Under the command of 
Col. J. M. Decker, had the companies been nearer the general 
rendezvous, it might have figured with the Sixth, Fourth and 
the other bodies so fortunate as to be in at the very beginning. 
As it was, by reference to the several prefatory sketches of 
the companies, it will be seen that many of the subsequent 
soldiers were putting down their names in April and, as it 
were, dancing attendance on the recruiting station till their 
muster-in, the following June. When the vision of Secretary 



8 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

Seward and other members of Lincoln's Cabinet, of a rebellion, 
suppressed in sixty days, had vanished, and in the middle 
of May there came from Washington permission for Massa- 
chusetts to organize six regiments as her first installment 
towards filling the call for half a million men, there was many 
an exultant heart -beat along the Connecticut and under the 
shadow of Greylock, because at least one of the regiments 
must come from that vicinity. 

Governor John A. Andrew has received merited praise 
during almost half a century for the early proffers, made by 
him of the services of Massachusetts Militia in the opening 
weeks of 1861, but some recognition should be had of the 
wisdom and foresight of his predecessor, Nathaniel P. Banks, 
Jr., who had placed the citizen soldiery of the Commonwealth 
in a condition of efficiency never attained before. It was the 
very climax of good fortune which placed at the disposal of 
Governor Andrew a superbly equipped body of men, ready to 
respond at the earliest summons and even to march on their 
mission southward through loyal states, where men were not 
yet awake to the need of the Government. While it is true 
that certain Pennsylvanians, without arms or uniform, had 
reached Washington a few hours before the arrival of the 
Massachusetts Sixth, the latter was the first armed body to 
interpose itself between the Capitol and its enemies. Governor 
Andrew had truthfully said that the soldiers of the Bay State 
went out equipped in all the essentials of warfare, "down to 
tent pegs and shoe strings." 

One of the enthusiastic divisions of the Militia, the Tenth, 
had been drilling for months with the expectation that the 
coming conflict might need its services, but when the demand 
was made it was not for a brief errand into the southland, but 
for an enlistment of three full years. There were many who 
would gladly have given the three months, at first called for, 
but who could not see their way clear to pledge the longer 
period. Still so great was the pressure for places in the ranks 
in these early days, there was no question of filling the com- 
panies, rather it was one of who should be taken and who 



May 15, '61 Springfield 9- 

rejected. One of Governor Andrew's earliest orders was the 
noted No. 4 in which every commanding officer of a company 
was enjoined to go carefully over the lists of names and see 
to it that only those of effective and ready men be retained. 
The alacrity and spirit with which this order was obeyed 
augured well for the day when the test should come. 

However devoted men may be to their nation or state, 
there is a clannish instinct in the great majority which prompts, 
them to a love for their neighbors, so companies recruited 
in contiguous localities have a closer hold on each other than, 
those coming from widely separated sections. Thus Western 
Massachusetts has a special fondness for the regiments which, 
in whole or part, were raised in that division of the Common- 
wealth. These were the 10th, 27th, 31st, 37th, 46th, 49th, 
52d and a considerable part of the 21st, 34th and 57th Regi- 
ments. Of course men from this section found their way into 
the various artillery and cavalry organizations of Massachu- 
setts, nor was the Navy wanting in stalwart men whose strength 
and vigor had been developed in the various industries of the 
interior. An idea of the services rendered may be had from 
the fact that, of the foregoing Regiments, the 31st is the only 
three years' organization, not included in Fox's book of 
"Three Hundred Fighting Regiments." While the record 
of all was excellent, the 31st doing splendidly in its Louisiana 
campaigns, special interest pertains to that of the Tenth, since 
it was the pioneer, the one to blaze the way for others to follow. 

As the permission for Massachusetts to raise six additional 
regiments bore date. May 15, 1861, it is fair to assume this 
as the very first date in the annals of the Tenth, though men 
had been waiting, more or less patiently, for such announce- 
ment during weary weeks and the muster-in, the real regi- 
mental birthday, was yet more than a month away. With 
Springfield selected as the rendezvous of the new organiza- 
tion, having exceptional conveniences for such purpose, it 
would be natural to find Springfield Companies earliest on the 
ground. The Company, as yet unnamed, but to become 
Company E in the Regiment, recruited by Capt. Frederic 



10 The Tb:nth Massachusetts Infantry 

Barton, was the first company in Hampden county, raised 
expressly for the war. Company F, as the Springfield City 
Guard was already in existence and on the ground, as was 
another company, raised by Oliver Edwards, later Adjutant 
of the Tenth. May 31st they were joined by Company A from 
Great Barrington, the other companies except Company D 
appearing June 14th, the Pittsfield Company (D) being a day 
late through a delay in the receipt of orders. Companies A 
(Great Barrington,) and K (Westfield), marched the entire 
distance, the latter body escorted all the way by the Rough 
and Ready Fire Engine Company, and a cavalcade of one hun- 
dred and fifty horsemen. Company I, respresenting West 
Springfield and Holyoke, also responded on foot. Still another 
company from Colrain, Company E of the old Militia Tenth, 
reported in the evening, its membership and that of Edwards's 
Company being distributed among the other companies. 

On the evening of Sunday, June 9th, had occurred one of 
those stirring events, then entirely new, but to which the 
loyal North was to become accustomed during the ensuing 
years. The three Springfield Companies, along with that 
from Great Barrington attended service at the First church, 
listening to an earnest, patriotic sermon by the Rev. H. M. 
Parsons and the strains of "Hail Columbia," "The Star 
Spangled Banner" and other national airs, as they pealed 
forth from the organ, while the flag itself bedecked the pulpit, 
and bunting in red, white and blue festooned the galleries. 
Soldiers and citizens completely filled the edifice and all 
carried away a deeper devotion to the cause rapidly becoming 
the paramount one in the land. The question of who should 
command the Tenth Regiment was solved Monday, June 10th 
by Governor Andrew, in that he then signed the commission, 
as Colonel, of Henry Shaw Briggs, till that day Captain of 
Co. K, (Allen Guard), 8th M. V. M., thus ending a subject 
which had given the papers many columns of matter and 
interested officers and men hours of discussion. 

By Tuesday, the 11th, the local companies with that from 
Great Barrington, had so far perfected themselves in drill that 



June 15, '61 Springfield 11 

they were not afraid to appear in public and so, under the 
command of Captain Lombard of the City Guard, they had a 
battahon drill and parade. They marched through the princi- 
pal streets, drilled in Court Square to the evident pleasure of 
the assembled multitude, ever alive to the merits of all military 
manoeuvres, and then accepted an invitation by the Guard 
to accompany the latter to its armory in the old Town Hall 
where refreshments were awaiting them. After the collation, 
a generous one, speeches by the several Company officers 
followed and social amenities as well as military tactics were 
pleasantly cultivated. 

Saturday, the 15th, saw the Regiment in battalion drill 
under Lieut. Col. Decker, Colonel Briggs being temporarily 
absent, and beneath a hot June sun, the young warriors 
marched, countermarched and manoeuvred to the wonder 
and satisfaction of a great array of men, women and children 
who crowded each other in their efforts to behold real soldiers 
preparing for actual war. Hard by, in contrast with these 
warlike preparations, workmen of the Agricultural Society 
were engaged in hay-making on that portion of Hampden 
Park not occupied by the soldiery. Captain E. G. Marshall 
of the Regular Army had been sent by the Governor to muster 
the Regiment into the United States service, but he found the 
same hardly ready for his services, in that only a few of the 
companies had reached the requisite number of 101 men, the 
state allowing only seventy-nine, and most of the Companies 
having reported with only that number. 

The following day being Sunday, the men showed the char- 
acter of their rearing, in that the several companies were 
found at divine service, four of them, viz, the City Guard, 
Captain Barton's, those from Great Barrington and Northamp- 
ton, electing the North church and there hearing a rousing 
address from the Rev. Mr. Drummond, who picturesquely 
advised them as to their future duties; the Greenfield men 
went to Pynchon street church; those from Holyoke and 
Shelburne to the South church; while the Westfield and 
North Adams companies attended the Baptist church. Not- 



12 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

-withstanding the preparations for war, June 17th was Bunker 
Hill Day just the same, hence the entire Regiment marched 
into the city and assisted in the celebration, one of whose 
features was the dedication of a beautiful flag, on which 
occasion speeches were made by Mayor Stephen C. Bemis 
and others. 

The 19th of June was a significant date in the records of the 
Tenth, as on that day the happy word went round that the 
maximum number had been reached by every Company, and 
with 101 men each, they were ready for the mustering officer. 
Also another unforgotten incident of the day was the thought- 
ful presentation to the men, by the good ladies of Springfield, 
of generous rations of doughnuts and cheese. Never was there 
a better illustration of reaching the hearts of men through 
their stomachs, for the food disappeared with evident relish 
and hearty cheers for the liberal donors proclaimed apprecia- 
tion and regard. The culinary department for the Regiment 
was managed by Messrs. Thomas H. Allen and Friend Bristol 
who performed their offices as well as could be expected, 
remembering that soldiers' rations were not supposed to be 
of a first-class hotel order. The menu consisted generally, 
for breakfast, of hash or fish balls, bread and coffee; dinner, 
meat or fish, potatoes, bread and water; supper, bread and 
butter, sliced ham or boiled beef and coffee. There was an 
occasional variation as on Mondays, when beans instead of 
meat were served for dinner and supper. Each squad sent 
one of their number to the kitchen to bring thence coffee in 
a pail and the solids in a tin pan. Coffee for the regiment was 
made in two large kettles each holding ninety gallons, while 
in the meat line, thirty hams, 500 lbs. of beef or four barrels 
of corned beef, with eight bushels of potatoes and 400 lbs. of 
bread were consumed at one meal. While enlisted men com- 
plained at times of the muddiness of the coffee and other 
indications of poor cooking yet, considering quantity and 
facilities, they were pretty good and before a year had passed 
some of the loudest of the complainants were wishing them- 
selves back in Hampden Park at meal time. The officers had 



June 20, '61 Springfield 13 

their table service in a large tent with Mr. Charles L. Jefts 
as caterer. 

These were davs of somewhat dull camp routine. To young 
raen entirely unused to restraint, they were irksome, yet just 
such experience was necessary to transform them into ser- 
viceable soldiers. From six to eight hours a day were spent 
in drill, the remaining time being devoted to the various 
incidents of camp life, such as roll-call, partaking of meals, 
fatigue duty, etc. No soldiers were permitted to leave camp 
without a pass from headquarters and of these only five per 
company could be issued in a single day. The regular daily 
routine appears in the following scheme: 5.00 a. m., reveille 
and roll-call; 6.30, breakfast; 7.30, guard-mount; 8.30, 
regimental drill; 12.30 p. m., dinner; 3.00, company drill; 
5.30, supper; 6.30, battalion line and dress parade; 10.00, 
tattoo; 10.30, taps, at which time lights were extinguished 
and quiet reigned. The camp had the advantage of the first 
two regimental officers, both doing their best to bring their 
diverse elements into military form. Were all the deeds and 
words of these days preserved, they would of themselves fill 
volumes, but only a few survive the lapse of years. Cotton, 
of Company B, was a very dry joker and when he heard a 
citizen commiserating the men over their prospective hard 
times in the South, Cotton turned to the sympathizer, saying, 
"Mister, didn't you know that we have enlisted and expect 
to get killed before those hard times get around? Guess you 
are the fellow that will suffer next winter instead of us. Lord, 
how I pity you!" 

June 20th, the restrictive feature of granting passes bore 
fruit in the plot of a hundred or moi-e volunteers to ' ' run the 
guard," a feat often attempted and frequently accomplished 
in every regimental experience . This first attempt at insubordi- 
nation was early discovered and frusti^ated by calling out 
the three left companies who stopped the malcontents before 
the guard line was reached. While all sorts of reasons were 
given for this course, among them the statement that the food 
was unsatisfactory, the probable real cause was the unwilling- 



14 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

ness of Young America to submit to meets and bounds with- 
out some sort of protest. As time wore on, they grew accus- 
tomed to the situation and if a time off seemed desirable, it 
was sought in a less concerted manner. This day also was 
important in that between forty and fifty recruits came in 
from the town of Spencer. A number of good men had 
volunteered there expecting to go in the Fifteenth, but the 
proffer of the Company was received too late, so an agreement 
was made to go to Springfield and enter some company there. 
Accordingly, accompanied by the Fire Engine Company and 
a host of citizens, both sexes and all ages, the men had marched 
two and a half miles to the railroad station and taken a train 
for the camp. The recruits were just the ones needed. Under 
competent direction they had been drilling, some of them a 
month, and in the ranks were J. W. Bigelow, Lawson Powers 
and Horace Prouty who had been elected Second, Third and 
Fourth Lieutenants respectively of the Company when first 
organized. The greater number were assigned to Companies 
H and K. 

Muster-in is a formaHty whereby the would-be soldier takes 
a solemn oath or affirmation that he will bear true allegiance 
to the Government and will obey all orders of his superior 
officers. This important event in the story of the Tenth took 
place Friday, June 21st, on the Agricultural grounds in Hamp- 
den Park, the executive officer being Captain Marshall of the 
U.S. Army, the same officer who had appeared for the purpose 
one week before, the deficiencies of that date having been 
made up by accession from Spencer and the disbandment of 
certain companies. Before administering the oath, the rules 
and regulations which the soldiers were expected to obey 
were read and with few exceptions, these among the most 
recent volunteers, all consented to respect them. During the 
ceremony, the different companies were arranged in column by 
company and with uplifted right hand and uncovered head, 
the men swore allegiance and obedience to the United States 
and to defend her against all foes whatsoever. 



June 21, '61 Muster-in 15 

The solemnity developed some trouble as in Company K 
from Westfield, where about twenty men refused to be sworn 
in because of a change that had been made in the position of 
First Lieutenant. The Company, by a two-thirds vote had 
selected Pliny Wood over Andrew Campbell, who had re- 
ceived the appointment from the Governor. Popular opinion 
sustained the dissatisfied soldiers and in a public meeting, the 
citizens of Westfield endorsed their action. Finally a com- 
promise was reached through the withdrawal of both would-be 
officers and the substitution of David M. Chase who was mus- 
tered as First Lieutenant.* Five men from Great Barrington, 
in Company A, declined to go further, two from sheer coward- 
ice, the others because their respective towns had failed to 
make provision for their families. A dozen or more of the 
North Adams Company B, making poor rations a pretext, 
also refused to serve but, when stripped of their uniforms, all 
but five reconsidered and were sworn in. Those persisting 
in their contrariness were drummed off the grounds, the 
leader having had his hair and whiskers on one side shaved off. 
Those companies, where no discontent had been manifested, 
were loudly cheered by their comrades and by the miany 
spectators. In Company I also a change was made, fully 
stated in the roster of Company I; vide James P. Brooks. 
One of the Spencer boys writes of this day, "Yesterday I was 
at work in the potato field ; today I am a soldier, having just 
been mustered in and am on guard." 

To the young men, reared on "mother's cooking," the food 
furnished by the contractors seemed not altogether savory 
and some of them, with the liberty born of America's free air, 
rushed into print and, through the columns of the Republican, 
sought the popular ear with their complaints. To such, 
Colonel Briggs replied in the Republican of June 21st, defend- 
ing the contractors and giving his own opinion along with that 



*It is of interest to know that both candidates later entered the 
service, Wood as Second Lieutenant, 27th Mass., killed as First Lieu- 
tenant, Arrowfield Church, Va., May 31, '64; Campbell, Captain, 46th 
Mass., twice a member of the Legislature, he died May 24, 1899. 



16 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

of the surgeon that the soup was palatable, wholesome and 
abundant. In a word that the rations were all that could be 
expected from the amount allowed by the Government, viz, 
thirty cents per man for each day, or ten cents per meal. 
Growling about rations, however, was no new thing; followers 
of Alexander and Caesar complained over the smallness and 
quality of the food dealt out to them. Only when the soldier 
could help himself to what he could reach, did he really live as 
he thought he ought to live. 

Though the camp was daily sought by visitors from near 
and far, a trip home once more was generally desired and the 
next day, Saturday the 22d, a general holiday was proclaimed 
and fully one-half of the men went to their respective homes 
to spend one more Sunday with the loved ones, while those 
who remained in camp were not forgetful of the religious 
advantages in Springfield. During the following week, equip- 
ments for the men began to arrive; overcoats in gray, with 
hats of a light drab, anything but handsome and which were 
discarded as soon as caps could be obtained. The India rubber 
knapsacks were condemned on the Regiment's reaching 
Washington and it was possible to receive a better article. 
The generosity of Springfield ladies was apparent on the 25th 
when they served strawberry shortcake for the entire Regiment. 
There was no stint in quantity nor complaint as to quality. 
What an imposing array shortcake for a thousand men must 
have been! Meanwhile, the matter of drill was not forgotten, 
at least so far as the absence of guns would permit, but facings 
and marching with the set-up drill were constantly in order. 

July 2d marked a step forward, since then the Regiment 
marched to the U.S. Armory and each man was supplied with 
a new gun from the Arsenal. It took only seven hundred and 
forty to go around, since more than two hundred of the men 
had not returned from their leave of absence, or were on duty 
in the camp. The weapon itself was of the common make, 
model of 1842, and was soon replaced with the Enfield rifle. 
This musket was thus given out for purposes of drill and 
parade and, with them in hand, the men felt a hundred fold 



July 4, '61 Springfield 17 

more like real soldiers as they marched back to their quarters. 
Though the entire nation was entering on a period of de- 
structive use of gunpowder, these "boys" in camp could 
hardly be expected to pass over July 4th without some recog- 
nition of its memories and significance. The entire Regiment 
entered heartily into the celebration, joining thus the fire and 
local military companies not already in the ranks, and paraded 
through the principal streets. On Main street, between 
Pynchon and Elm, a floral procession of above eight hundred 
children from the public schools, directed by Col. Horace C. 
Lee, passed through the Regiment and presented each soldier 
with a pretty bouquet which the thankful recipient at once 
placed upon the tip of his bayonet and thus bore it through 
the parade. Nor was eating forgotten, since a free dinner 
was served in a large tent on the park where the soldiers and 
hundreds of others victualed freely. Of course such an occa- 
sion could not pass without food for the mind as well as for 
the body. The Rev. Mr. Parsons opened the occasion with 
a fervent and patriotic prayer. Mr. Wm. L. Smith served as 
toastmaster. His introductions were pointed and witty, 
drawing out in response the best there was in the speakers, 
among whom were Mayor Bemis, Colonel Briggs, Lieut. Col. 
Decker, Col. James D. Colt of Pittsfield, Judges Chapman, Wells 
and Morris, Ex-Mayor Calhoun, and the Rev. Mr. Drummond 
of Springfield, Erastus Hopkins of Northampton, Capt. Ralph 
O. Ives of the Tenth, and George T. Davis of Greenfield. 
Singing under the lead of Sheriff Bush and Charles 0. Chapin 
was distributed through the postprandial exercises. The 
day itself was excessively hot and many of the soldiers were 
overcome, dropping upon the grass as the marching ceased. 
Even the officers could not endure the ordeal. Captain Lom- 
bard of Company F having to leave his command; Lieut. 
Porter of Company E w^as completely overcome, remaining 
insensible for some time; Adjutant Edwards was so pros- 
trated that he was ill for hours ; while fully fifty men suffered 
in similar manner. It was estimated that three thousand 
people thronged the park, increasing to thrice this number for 



18 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

the dress parade at 5.00 p. m., which ended the observances 
for the day. 

July 5th witnessed an exchange of the ancient weapons, 
given out for drill purposes, for Enfield rifles.* Though the 
latter was by no means an ideal weapon and not up to later 
patterns of the Springfield musket, it was a great advance on 
those turned in. The different parts of the gun would not 
interchange like those of the American, thus necessitating the 
office of armorer in whose presence guns must be taken down 
and readjusted. America had not been making rifles to any 
great extent and many a soldier can remember the old Harper's 
Ferry musket whose flint-lock had given place to a percussion 
outfit. While doing the best possible to equip the newly 
raised army with proper weapons, the Government could not 
provide wholly home-made articles and so had to purchase 
abroad, but the Confederates were there earlier, hence what 
came into our hands were the "left-overs," if not the culls 
or rejected, at best the second choice. 

Measles made their appearance in the hospital and all the 
comfort the victims found was in the reflection that hot 
weather was a better time for the ailment than winter. The 
old complaints about food would not altogether die, as was 
evident when a party of roguish fellows get hold of some 
spoiled meat and, after a mock funeral procession, buried it 
with great solemnity, setting up a head-board covered with 
epitaphic doggerel. The 7th of July, being the Lord's Day, 
services were held on the grounds, a very pertinent and elo- 
quent sermon being given by the Rev. Dr. Ide of the First 
Baptist church, a platform having been erected for the preacher 
opposite the seats in the park, said seats affording an excellent 
listening place for the men. On the 9th, the regimental band 
arrived from North Adams under the leadership of Wm. D. 
Hodge, its delayed coming being incident to the necessity of 
filling certain engagements nearer home. 



*An English weapon, so called from the place of manufactuer, the 
principal arsenal in the United Kingdom, largely developed by the 
demands of the Crimean War. 



July 10, '61 Springfield 19 

A visit from the Governor was not an everyday affair, 
hence the coming of Governor Andrew on the 10th was rated 
as a notable event in regimental life. Reaching the city about 
noon, he dined at the Massasoit House and then visited the 
Arsenal where he was received with a national salute and 
shown all possible honor. Accompanied by Mayor Bemis 
and Ex-Lieut. Gov. Eliphalet Trask, he reached the camp at 
about 4.30 p. m., where he reviewed the Regiment. The 
latter was drawn up in line at the north end of the park in 
full view of the people who filled the stands of seats and the 
race track. Passing up and down the front and rear of the 
lines, the Governor and staff had a full view of the entire 
Regiment and later witnessed the drill and manoeuvres of the 
soldiers, in all occupying thus an hour and a half. Once more 
came the welcome announcement that a visit home was 
possible and from the morning of the 11th until noon of 
Saturday, the 13th, there was a respite from camp duties for 
such as cared for just one more glance at that dearest of 
places. 

Departure from Springfield was impending and on the 15th 
all were aware that the morrow would end their stay in camp 
No. 1. There were many things to be done before going, but 
a part of the afternoon was devoted to the presentation of a 
stand of colors to the Regiment by the ladies of Springfield. 
Once more all the available space of the park was filled as 
never before. The men were in line opposite the assemblage 
when the bearers of the colors approached the platform. 
Mrs. James Barnes represented the ladies and Col. James M. 
Thompson, who had been active in aiding the ladies in all their 
efforts to enhance the comfort of the soldiers, presided. Mrs. 
Barnes in presenting the colors to Colonel Briggs said: 

Colonel Briggs: I have been requested by the ladies 
of Springfield to present through you, to the Tenth Regiment 
of Massachusetts Volunteers, these colors, National and 
Regimental. I am also charged with the delivery of a letter 
which accompanies them, in which the ladies have expressed 
the sentiments which they deemed appropriate to the occasion. 



20 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

As she paused briefly the letter was read by Colonel Thomp- 
son as follows : 

To. Col. Henry S. Briggs, and the Tenth Regiment of Massa- 
chusetts Volunteers under his Command: 

The ladies of Springfield, feeling a deep interest in their 
country's cause, desire to testify the same to you, by present- 
ing you with these colors, the emblems of her glory as a republic, 
and of that State which has given you to be the defenders and 
upholders of her most sacred rights. Let these banners, 
differing in design, yet one in sentiment, be your reverence 
as they are ours; and wherever the fortunes of war may lead 
you, we hope, as we believe, that their lustre may never be 
dimmed by any neglect on your part. May the sight of them 
ever fill your hearts with new zeal and strengthen in you the 
determination to defend them to the death. 

To you, sir, who have the honor to command, and to our 
brave brothers who compose the Tenth Regiment of Massa- 
chusetts Volunteers, we commit this precious charge. We 
accompany it with our prayers for your safe and honorable 
return to your families and friends. And may a gracious 
God, who is powerful to protect you amid the dangers of the 
battle, as amid the peaceful retirement of your homes, have 
you constantly in His holy keeping. 

Ellen Phelps, EHzabeth D. Rice, E. S. Merriam, Bell C. 
Saxton, Mary A. Sargent, Sarah M. Bliss, Committee. 

Mrs. Barnes then resumed: 

I trust, sir, that these sentiments will find a ready response 
in your own heart and in the heart of every man under your 
command. As you are now about to enter upon the solemn 
duties for which you and your Regiment have been enrolled, 
you will always remember that the heart of many a wife and 
mother and child and sister, will beat anxiously for your safety, 
but, remember, no less anxiously for your honor. Not only 
personal friends, but the whole people of the State of Massa- 
chusetts will share these feelings. I take great pride, sir, in 
having been selected by the ladies to present to you these 
beautiful emblems of our Nation and State, and I am happy 
to believe they could not be placed in more honorable hands. 

In his speech of acceptance. Colonel Briggs, as ever, was 
equal to the occasion and in a few eloquent words he accepted 
the gift and promised for himself and men their undying 
devotion to the colors and what they represented. The State 



July 16, '61 Break Camp 21 

flag was prepared by Thomas G. Savory, Boston, of rich blue 
silk, regulation size, six feet by six feet six inches, emblazoned 
with the Massachusetts coat of arms, supported by the olive 
and palm, symbolic of peace and victory. A scroll above 
bore the State motto and beneath in gilt were the words, 
"Tenth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers." Trimmed 
with yellow silk fringe and mounted with gold cord and 
tassels, the flag represented an outlay of $275.00. The 
accompanying Union banner was a worthy companion, of 
regulation size, presenting in silk the red, white and blue. 

It was a day of generous giving, for immediately thereafter 
came the presentation by Springfield citizens of a beautiful 
chestnut horse, selected by "Tim" Henry, an experienced 
horseman, to Adjutant Oliver Edwards. The Rev. Mr. 
Tiffany expressed the sentiments of the donors in fitting words 
and the response of the young lieutenant was eloquently 
given, at least as far as his feelings would permit, for he must 
have realized, in this expression of his fellow citizens' love 
and esteem, indications of their appreciation of his own 
devotion and loyalty in readily dropping a bar from his 
Captain's shoulder strap, that the interests of the Regiment 
might be promoted. The last day in Springfield terminated 
with a reception by Mayor Bemis for officers of the Tenth and 
his friends at his Chestnut street residence. 

Not only did the 16th of July see the departure of the 
Regiment, but it also beheld the greatest throng of people 
that any military affair had ever drawn to this city on the 
banks of the Connecticut. Western Massachusetts was alive 
to the import of the day and all other duties were left in 
abeyance, while a lasting farewell was taken of the fathers, 
husbands, sons and brothers who were about to take another 
step forward. Again there were tokens of regard placed in 
the hands of officers, not to mention the hundreds of gifts of 
lesser note to enlisted men in the ranks. Mayor Bemis and 
Ex-Lt. Gov. Trask called on Captain Lombard of Company F 
and gave him a pair of pistols, thus inducing some entertaining 
speaking, the presentation being made by Wm. S. Shurtleff, 



22 



The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 



Esq., subsequently Colonel of the -iGth Regiment, M. V. M. 
Not to be outdone in generosity, the men from Holyoke and 
West Springfield in Company I gave Captain Clifford and 
Lieutenant Bennett each a revolver and to Lieutenant Newell 
a gold chain and signet ring. Lieutenant Bigelow, also of 
Company F, received from the workmen of the state printers' 
office in Boston, where he had labored, a fine sash and a pair 
of epaulettes. 

The orignial roster of the officers of the Tenth, as the 
Regiment left Springfield follows : 

Colonel, Henry S. Briggs, Pittsfield 

Lieut. Colonel, Jefford M. Decker, Lawrence 

Major, William R. Marsh, Northampton 
Surgeon, Cyrus N. Chamberlain, Northampton 

Assistant Surgeon, William Holbrook, Palmer 

Chaplain, Frederick A. Barton, Springfield 
Adjutant, Oliver Edwards, Springfield 

Quartermaster, John W. Rowland, North Adams 



Company Captains 
A Ralph O. Ives, 

Gt. Barrington 
B Elisha Smart, 

Adams 
C Joseph B. Parsons, 

Northampton 
D Thomas W. Clapp, 

Pittsfield 
E Frederick Barton 

Springfield 
F Hosea C. Lombard, 

Springfield 
G Edwin E. Day, 

Greenfield 
H Ozro Miller, 

Shelburne 
I John H. Clifford, 

Holyoke 
K Lucius B. Walkley, 

Westfield 



First Lieutenants 
James L. Bacon, 

Gt. Barrington 
Samuel C. Traver, 

Adams 
James H. Wetherell 

Northampton 
Charles Wheeler, 

Dalton 
Byron Porter 

Springfield 
Hiram A. Keith 

Springfield 
George Pierce, 

Greenfield 
Chandler J.Woodward 

Shelburne 
Joseph K. Newell, 

Springfield 
David M. Chase, 

Westfield 



Second Lieutenants 
Henry L. Wilcox, 

Gt. Barrington 
Lewis W. Goddard, 

Adams 
Flavel Shurtleff 

Northampton 
George E. Hager, 

Pittsfield 
Wallace A. Putnam, 

Danvers 
George W. Bigelow, 

Springfield 
Lorenzo L. Remington 

Greenfield 
Benj. F. Leland 

Shelburne 
Joseph H. Bennett, 

West Springfield 
Edwin T. Johnson, 

Westfield 



Shortly after LOO p. m., escorted by the Springfield Cadets 
and the Union Guard, the Tenth Regiment bade farewell to 



July 16, '61 Medford 23 

Hampden Park and marched to the station, through a con- 
tinuous scene of excitement and enthusiasm. More train room 
was allotted the men than they would get in car rides a few 
months later; seventeen passenger cars were assigned to the 
Regiment and all were well filled. The pangs of parting were 
just the same as similar events throughout the Nation were 
evoking. The hurried hand-shake, a last embrace, a parting 
kiss, a fervent "God bless you," and the long line of cars 
moved slowly away, thus creating in many cases a final 
separation, since some of the departing soldiers would make 
no visits home and the glances they were now taking of the 
passing scenes were their last views of Western Massachusetts. 

MEDFORD 

Two engines were necessary to draw the long train which 
was in charge of Charles O. Russell, Assistant Superintendent 
of the Western Road, as this particular portion of the Boston 
and Albany Railroad was then called, and the engineers, John 
Norcutt and Cyrus Worthy, thereby achieved immortality. 
Nothing could exceed the fervor of the greetings extended 
along the entire route. At Palmer several hundred women 
crowded the platform of the station and one of them held up a 
beautiful bouquet which was passed by a civilian to Colonel 
Briggs, the flowers having with them a note expressive of the 
patriotic devotion and loyalty which were pervading all hearts 
at the time. Everywhere, as the train sped along, great crowds 
of people were waiting for a sight of the soldiers who were 
to reach the South by an eastward route. Arriving in Boston 
shortly after 5.00 p. m., the Regiment was received by the 
2d Battalion of Infantry, under command of Gen. Samuel 
Andrews and escorted across the city into Charlestown as 
far as Bunker Hill on the road to Medford, following thus the 
route taken by Paul Revere in his famous ride and, on Charles- 
town Neck, marching where Putnam raged, June 17, 1775, 
at the falling back of the Americans. Preparations for the 
reception of the men had been made by a detachment under 
Captain Walkley of Company K, that had left Springfield the 



24 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

day before. Consequently, when the Regiment arrived, it 
was to find quarters all ready. 

The new camp consisted of about seventy acres of newly 
mowed meadow land, situated on the great turnpike, leading 
from Medford to Charlestown and on the banks of the Mystic. 
The land itself was once owned by John Quincy Adams, from 
which interesting fact the new stopping place was called 
"Camp Adams," in many respects more healthful and pleasant 
than the one so recently occupied in Hampden Park. The 
near-by Mystic afiforded excellent salt water bathing facilities 
which the soldiers were not slow to utilize. Owing to limited 
time for preparation, supper in the new camp was wanting, 
but rations, stowed in the haversacks in Springfield, came in 
conveniently, though some of the men found the alleged want 
of food a most excellent excuse for going back to Boston, 
whence a certain part did not return until compelled to do so 
by a guard sent in for that purpose. For such remissness, the 
stragglers were ordered to serve as well-diggers for the good 
of the entire camp, since the late John Q. Adams had failed 
to provide for an adequate supply of good drinking water. 
Here began the system of company cooking, each one detailing 
two or more men for this purpose. Contract service was at an 
end and the chronic kickers had to transfer their complaints 
from the old to the new style. There are in existence traces 
of the camp's being known by some as Camp McClellan, from 
General Geo. B., who, in Western Virginia, was rapidly climb- 
ing the ladder of fame. 

Quarters for the Regiment were found in seventy-six tents, 
Boyd patent, circular, and supported by a single upright pole 
in the center, each tent capable of containing eighteen men, 
provided all were good natured. There were two entrances, 
front and rear, each protected by a flap or apron, and venti- 
lated by an aperture at the top, with a bonnet above to be 
raised or lowered at will, protecting the interior in wet weather. 
The officers' tents were near the highway, while those of the 
enlisted men were nearer the river. During the entire stay 
in Medford, friends were freely admitted to the camp. July 



July 17, '61 Medford 25 

17th brought the camp outfit for the officers who, their first 
night in camp, had slept on mother earth without blankets 
or furniture. In the afternoon line was formed for dress 
parade, the ten companies taking their stations according to 
the rank of the several captains. The commanders of com- 
panies were ranked by their commissions in the Massachusetts 
Militia, as their commissions in the volunteer service were all 
of the same date. Capt. Ozro Miller was given the right of 
the line by virtue of his commission being dated June 7, 1859; 
Capt. Edwin E. Day had the second post of honor, his com- 
mission dating from August 5, 1859; Elisha Smart, colors, 
April 30, 1861; Lucius B. Walkley, May 4, 1861; John H. 
Clifford, May 6, 1861; Hosea C. Lombard, May 16, 1861; 
Fred. Barton, May 23, 1861; Ralph O. Ives, May 28, 1861; 
Thomas W. Clapp, June 14, 1861; Joseph B. Parsons, June 
21, 1861. 

The first day's trial of domestic or company cooking was 
pronounced a success, the men claiming that the soup was 
far better than what they had been receiving. The stay here 
was to be a scant ten days, but it served as a good initiation 
to the actual camp life soon to follow, many miles nearer the 
enemy, nothing being neglected that would tend to make 
better soldiers of the novices. On the 22d came the wheeled 
outfit which was to transport the camp effects in coming 
months. There were twenty-five baggage wagons, five am- 
bulances, two hospital wagons and 123 horses delivered to 
Quartermaster Rowland at the Cambridge Arsenal. At 2.00 
p. m. a detachment of men proceeded to the Arsenal and at 
5.00 o'clock they were back in camp, having matched and 
harnessed the horses and driven them to Medford without a 
break. Tuesday, the 23d, orders were promulgated to the 
effect that on the 25th the Regiment would embark for 
Washington. This was a surprise, for it had not been expected 
that the start would be so soon, but news from the Bull Run 
battle, July 21st, was not of such a nature as to warrant 
delay. At this late date it may be imagined how the story 
of that wretched beginning of the great battles was told over 



26 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

and over in the camp, and many were wondering if they had 
been present whether the result might not have been different. 
Rapid proficiency had been made in drill, and the dress 
parades were daily witnessed by multitudes from Medford 
and adjoining towns. On the 23d, in the forenoon, a trial 
march was made through the streets of the town, thus afford- 
ing all a view not only of the beautiful village, but also of two 
of the famous distilleries where had been made for more than 
a hundred years, the decoction which, under the appellation 
of Medford Rum, had carried the name of the Middlesex town 
around the world. Again Captain Marshall visited the camp 
and administered the oath to about one hundred men who 
quite filled the Regiment. Among these was Drummer-Boy 
Myron P. Walker of Company C, who had been absent June 
21st. Only fourteen years old, he was unqualifiedly the 
youngest "man" in the Tenth Regiment. To crown all the 
experiences of this eventful day, and to indicate the esteem 
in which the Regiment was held by the Medford people, the 
ladies of East Medford, Pleasant and Ship streets visited the 
camp in the evening, bringing with them four barrels of 
doughnuts, besides baskets of cake, currants and other 
luxuries. Each company received four pailfuls, enough for 
a good sample of home cooking and, through well-filled 
stomachs, to attest the kindness of their Medford friends for 
whom they rent the air with enthusiastic cheers. 

The breaking of camp began the 24th, with the sending to 
Boston of the extra baggage of the Regiment that it might 
be loaded on the steamers 5. R. Spaulding and Ben De Ford, 
then waiting at the dock, vessels to be pretty well known in 
following years as transports for soldiers all along the Atlantic 
coast. Thursday, the 25th, saw the remainder of the baggage 
and equipage packed early in the morning. At 7.30 a. m. 
tents were struck, loaded upon the wagons and everything 
was made ready for a start. Again the great hearts of the 
Medford citizens appeared in that they served the "boys" 
with a farewell breakfast of baked beans and brown bread, 
not a few of them coming on the ground to say "Good-bye;" 



July 25, '61 Medford 27 

there was also a considerable showing of friends from the 
towns of the western part of the state. At 2.00 p. m. the 
Regiment marched to the village of Medford, less than a mile 
away, where, after forming a hollow square, prayer was 
offered by one of the village clergymen, after which Ex-Gov. 
George N. Briggs, father of the Colonel, addressed the men 
in an impressive manner. There is no other similar incident 
recorded during the war. Himself renowned for the purity of 
his character, the excellence of his long administration, his 
words were heard by appreciative listeners, none of them 
thinking how soon those instructive lips were to be stilled in 
death. Beginning with a statement of why the men were 
leaving their homes with hostile intent, pointing out the duty 
of the President and their own, he proceeded to address them 
in a paternal spirit, touching upon the value of character, 
the vices he would have them shun, and concluded with the 
following personal appeal : 

You are going to meet active and earnest opponents' 
Never underrate the power or bravery of an enemy. If you 
come in conflict with them, show yourselves to be nten and 
New England men. If your enemies are brave and gallant, 
imitate and excel them in those qualities. If they are cruel 
and inhuman to their wounded foes, avoid and abhor their 
example. Such conduct disgraces humanity. Should they 
fall into your hands as prisoners, remember they are your 
brethren, and treat them with kindness and magnanimity. 
Show them that it is not your purpose nor the purpose of the 
Government you defend to subjugate them as enemies, but to 
restore them to the dominion of the laws, and the benign and 
just power of the Constitution, to the enjoyment of the same 
privileges which you claim for yourselves. Never raise your 
weapons upon a fallen foe, never stain those bright bayonets 
with the blood of wounded and disabled foes. 

Officers and soldiers of the Tenth Regiment: whilst you 
rally around and defend the standard of your country, never 
forget that you owe allegiance to a Higher Power. We must 
all render an account of our conduct here to the Supreme 
Ruler and Judge of heaven and earth. The soldier, of all men, 
should feel that he is in the presence of God and humbly 
implore His protection. He is a God of battles, and will be a 



28 The Tenth Massachusetts Inf.ajvtry 

shield and buckler to those who put their trust in Him. 
Trust in his mercy and rely on his mighty arm for protection. 
May He preserve and bless you all. 

When the army of an ancient republic were going forth 
to battle a mother of one of the soldiers said to him, "My son, 
return home ivith your shield or on your shield." Adopting 
the sentiment of that noble mother, let me say to the com- 
mander of this Regiment: My son! and to the true and brave 
officers associated with you, and to the resolute, hardy and 
intelligent men under your command, bring back those beauti- 
ful and rich colors presented you by the ladies of Springfield, 
the emblems of your country's power and glory, weaving over 
your heads, unstained, or return wrapped in their gory folds. 

Soon after the address, the troops were taken by train to 
Boston, reaching the city at 3.15 p. m. Forming in line on 
Canal street and preceded by a platoon of police, the Regiment 
moved through Haymarket Square, Blackstone, Hanover, 
Court, State and India streets to Central wharf. While no 
attempt was made at parade, taking only those streets leading 
most directly to the destination, the march through the " Hub " 
was very much like an ovation, multitudes of people being 
ready to see and speed the departing soldiers with the hearti- 
est of cheers. There was no delay in beginning the embarka- 
tion. Companies C, K, B, D and G, under Colonel Briggs. 
with the Major, Adjutant and Surgeon went on the 5. R. 
Spanlding while Companies A, H, E, F and I, with Lieut. Col. 
Decker, the Quartermaster, and Assistant Surgeon, embarked 
on the Ben De Ford. The latter steamer was the first to leave 
and she steamed away amidst the cheers of the people on the 
docks and those of the soldiers on board. The schoolship, 
Massachusetts, was saluted with a cannon shot as she was 
passed, with the boys manning the yards and cheering the 
men. Both steamers exchanged greetings with the 13th 
Regiment, then camped in Fort Independence, the men of 
both regiments cheering to the very limit of their voices. 
The Regiment with all its outfit, previously enumerated, 
filled two great ocean steamers. As yet neither officers nor 
men had learned in what small compass they could be stowed 
if need arose; a little later the baggage train would be meas- 



July 27, '61 En Route 29 

urably reduced, and as for the men, they would sleep so 
much closer that four men would stay where one now abided. 

EN ROUTE 

It was not a long voyage on which these Massachusetts men 
were embarked, but it sufficed to give them a taste of the sea 
and to demonstrate how many of them were good sailors' 
Of course they took in all the glories of Boston Harbor as they 
glided along, and night shut down upon them before they 
were well away from the land. During the night the vessels 
steamed out of Massachusetts Bay and the morning of the 
26th revealed only a distant view of the Bay State to these 
young voyagers, the most of whom were born and nurtured 
within her borders. Had that considerable portion of the 
gazers known that this was their last glimpse of dear Old 
Massachusetts, they would have looked even more intently 
than they did, for it was a fact that fully one-third of these one 
thousand men never pressed the soil of their native state 
again. 

July 27th, in the afternoon, the steamers rounded into 
Chesapeake Bay and the men realized that they were nearing 
the enemy's country, since they were overhauled by the U. S. 
steamer, Quaker City, one of the blockading squadron, and 
as they passed up the Bay and into the waters of the Potomac, 
they noted the points that had been acquiring fame within 
the preceding few weeks. There at the left was Matthias 
Point where June 27th Capt. James H. Ward of the Freeborn 
had lost his life at Rebel hands, and eyes were strained for a 
view of the scene, quiet enough now. Sunday, the 28th, 
revealed to those who were looking a Confederate flag well up 
on the high land by Aquia Creek, a name even then prominent 
in the news of the day. A small cannon on board was fired 
at the Rebel works. Truly the rebellious regions were nearing. 
Tolling bells proclaimed the passing of Mount Vernon, the 
home and burial place of Washington, and many wondered 
that the fortunes of war should place this, of all places, so 
near the hands of those who would destroy the very govern- 



30 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

ment he had done so much to estabhsh. The band played the 
"Dead March" in "Saul," while Surgeon Chamberlain signal- 
ized the occasion by calling attention to the soarings of a 
magnificent eagle' which on closer inspection proved to be a 
turkey buzzard. All sorts of craft were encountered, some 
with and some without flags, many of them apparently fitted 
with colors adapted to either Rebel or Federal demands. 
Many noted the bare flag staff above the Marshall House, 
Alexandria, where Ellsworth was shot May 24th. 

It was 4.00 p. m. when the Ben De Ford touched the wharf 
at the Arsenal, while the Spaiilding discharged its load at the 
Navy Yard. It was a short task for those on the De Ford to 
land, stack arms and then to await orders. Discomfort soon 
arose in the shape of a drenching rain, finding the men wholly 
unprotected. They did their best, however, to find shelter 
beneath the great cannon and some sought refuge in the 
neighboring jail. Supper, which did not appear till dark, 
consisted of only a half barrel of sea biscuit to a Company. 
The discomforts of the first night in the Capital these men had 
come to defend may be imagined. The 29th brought more 
rain and a continued wait, extending till about 4.00 p. m., 
when they were directed to proceed to Kalorama near Merid- 
ian Hill, about two and a half miles N. W. from the Capitol. 
The route was by the great edifice with its impressive though 
unfinished dome, down Pennsylvania avenue, in many re- 
spects the most noted street in the New World, passing thus 
Willard's Hotel, so renowned in the history of American 
politics, halting briefly in front of the White House, where 
many an eye sought a glimpse of "Honest Old Abe," the 
President, thence marching at a brisk pace to camp, reaching 
the same just at dark. Before tents could be pitched, rain 
began to fall again, and the unlucky soldiers were drenched to 
the skin, but in spite of difficulties, one-half of the tents went 
up and the saturated men turned in for the night. 

When the morning of the 30th dawned, camp was retired 
a short distance from the road, a strong guard was posted and 
no person was allowed to pass after dark. Muskets were 



Aug. 5, '61 En Roxtte 31 

loaded with ball cartridges and orders were given to fire at 
everything that failed to respond to a challenge after 9.00 p. m. 
Near by were regiments that had fought at Bull Run and the 
men were eloquent in their recitals of hair-breadth escapes, 
quite blood curdling to the inexperienced men from the East. 
Colored people abounded, the greater part of them intent 
on making a cent by the selling of all sorts of eatables and 
other items pleasing to the soldier. One old colored woman 
black as Erebus, who had fallen heir to a couple of hams left 
by the regiment recently encamped there, held up both hands 
in gratitude and astonishment saying, "I's heerd dat de Lord 
was gwine to set de table in de Wilderness, an' I blebe de time 
hab come." The first Sunday in camp, August 4th, was 
signalized by the issuing of new uniforms, gray trousers and 
blue blouses, their first public appearance being at dress 
parade ; the former attire was thought to resemble too closely 
that of the enemy. 

Monday, the 5th, passed without incident until dress parade 
when, at its close, the Adjutant announced that the First 
Sergeants would not dismiss their companies as usual, but 
hold them subject to further orders. Accordingly all were 
marched back to quarters and there, amid all sorts of rumors, 
remained in line for an hour. At last they were ordered to 
break ranks and be ready to move at seven o'clock the next 
morning. Considerable activity followed, the commissaries 
receiving three days' rations from the Quartermaster, one 
day's part to be cooked at once. The 6th started in early, 
tents were struck and loaded, twenty rounds of ammunition 
were served to each man and, in high spirits, the Regiment 
marched away, entirely ignorant of its destination. A march 
of three and a half miles, a little north of due east, brought 
the men to a new stopping place near the head of Seventh 
street and about four miles north of the Capitol. The pace 
had been a rapid one and many of the men, unable to take it, 
had fallen out through exhaustion or sunstroke. The camp 
was pitched in a cornfield where stalks were growing to the 
height of fifteen feet, a rare sight to men used to less luxuriant 



32 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

growth. Here ensued one of the most important acts in the 
history of the Tenth, for it was on this day and place that the 
Regiment was brigaded with the Seventh Massachusetts, 
Second Rhode Island and the Thirty-Sixth New York, thus 
beginning intimate relations to continue as long as the several 
organizations remained in the service, and in which each regi- 
ment had an ever increasing respect for the loyalty and 
bravery of the other. Absence of water rendered the place an 
unfit one for a camp. Thursday, the 8th, the first inspection 
was had by Gen. D. N. Couch, a Massachusetts man, first 
Colonel of the Seventh, and now the Brigadier in command. 
The inspection, though tiresome, was not particularly im- 
pressive. 

BRIGHTWOOD 

On account of the undesirable location of the camp, a neW^ 
one was sought on the 9th, and as early at 3.30 a. m. the reveille 
sounded; at 4.00 o'clock battaHon Hne was formed, camp 
was broken and the men were ofif , halting at last at Brightwood, 
a beautiful spot, somewhat south of the residence of Francis 
P. Blair, Sr., father of the Postmaster General. The place 
was to become famous three years later in that from the 
parapet of the fort which the Tenth was to erect, Abraham 
Lincoln would witness the assault on the Nation's Capital, 
largely protected by the future toil of these men from Massa- 
chusetts. The Tenth was the furthest regiment out, and 
pickets were stationed on the road towards the city till those 
of the next regiment were met. The attack of measles from 
which the Regiment had suffered in Springfield did not end 
there for here in Brightwood the disease was again prevalent. 

It would seem that a change in original intentions had 
come over the minds of the authorities, for while the Tenth 
and other regiments did not know it, they were to be held in 
this vicinity a number of months to assist in rendering the 
Republic's Capital safe. It was through no lack of opportunity 
that the victorious Rebels, after Bull Run, did not capture 
and sack Washington. The same panic which had sent Union 



Aug. 9, '61 Brightwood 33 

soldiers helter-skelter to the Potomac and across it, had 
deprived the enemy of his wits and the city was saved. Not 
to be thus imperiled again, apparently the military powers 
had determined to hold the new regiments, as they came down 
from the North, and set them at the not entirely pleasing task 
of digging, each organization to have a taste of the work. In 
this way for more than a year, hardly a regiment passed 
through Washington that did not halt a longer or shorter 
time to lift a shovel in making secure the Capital. While 
certain Heavy Artillery organizations were assigned here for 
a much longer period, not being ordered out until Grant 
assumed command in the spring of 1864, hundreds of others 
could, with truthfulness say, "We helped to build those forts." 
Many " Know-it-alls" had their fling at the labor and treasure 
thus expended, saying it was utter nonsense, but the scare 
of July 1861 was an effectual one, so that when the Rebel came 
again in another July three years later, he found the forts 
bristling with guns and the head and front of the defense were 
to be made in and near the fortification, still in the future, 
but to arise slowly by Massachusetts hands. 

The 11th of the month was cold and misty and though it 
was Sunday, the reveille sounded at 4.30 a. m. and breakfast 
followed at 6.30. Guard mount was at 7.30, and at S.OO o'clock, 
inspection, a busy time for a day of rest. The Catholics of the 
Regiment had a chance to attend service of their own belief 
in the camp of the 36th New York, and so, some sixty strong, 
marched away. At 4.00 p. m. came the first service by Chap- 
lain Barton who spoke from Matt. VI, 33, "But seek ye first 
the kingdom of God," following his address with some practical 
remarks on the evils of profanity. To crown the interest of the 
occasion, there followed a christening, the subject being a fine 
baby from a neighboring family, the chaplain officiating and 
a large part of the Regiment looking on, quite willing to serve 
as sponsors. Gradually the men were being introduced to the 
distinguished names of the day, for on the 12th at about 
5.00 p. m., General McClellan visited the camp and spoke 
words of praise concerning his impressions and assured the 



Aug. 12, '61 Brightwood 35 

soldiers that he should soon have need of them. Of certain 
men who were receiving discharge papers in those early days, 
one fellow-soldier remarked, "They aren't worth a row of 
pins as soldiers; the 'cannon fever' attacks these men hard. 
One thought if he ate Lucifer matches it would help him; it 
did — to a case of the phthisic and a discharge. I hope he 
feels better now. He was going to bring Jeff. Davis's head home 
with him on his bayonet, at least that was the way he talked 
before leaving the town." 

While regimental annals are not over full of dirt -throwing 
details, it is apparent from casual mention here and there, 
that all the men were getting their share of work entirely un- 
thought of when they signed their enlistment papers. Thus 
August 20th, Companies F and I were said to have been dig- 
ging on the fortifications, "New work for them." The bread 
consumed by the Regiment came from the Capital bakery, 
one of the noted institutions of Washington during the war, 
where loaves to the number of fifty or sixty thousand could 
be turned out daily. To Massachusetts men the fact was all 
the more interesting in that the ovens, down in the vaults 
beneath the great building, were constructed under the 
direction of Lieut. T. J. Cate of Company F, Sixth Mass., a 
Lowell man who thus demonstrated the wonderful versatility 
of the American soldier. Sunday, the 25th, in connection 
with the religious services the excellence of a choir, organized 
from the men, was shown, their voices blending well with the 
music of the brass band. On the 26th, Luther Hill, a promi- 
nent citizen of Spencer visited Brightwood, bringing with him 
numerous parcels from the homes represented, and besides, 
ten dollars in gold for each man from that town. It goes 
without saying that he was heartily received. Picket duty in 
those days was thoroughly enjoyed. "Peaches and green corn 
are in their prime and I guess we do more foraging than guard- 
ing, but I don't care, the most of the folks are more Secesh 
than Union, no matter what they profess and some don't 
even do that. Five of us took supper with the natives; 
biscuit, butter and honey; we paid the woman fifteen cents 



36 



The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 



apiece; not a very heavy spread, but it was a change from 
regular rations." 

It has often been said that there were two armies contest- 
ing against the foe — that at the front, and the other at home, 
composed of relatives and friends, all praying and encouraging 




Co. c. 
Day, C. B. iMnsley, 
Braman, Brewster. 



Co. C. 

Left to right (standing) 

Williams, Bliss, Rust, Bishop, 

(Sitting) Cook, Wright. 



Co. F. 

Lts. Keith & Bigelow, 

Dan. Hosrner, Capt. 

Lombard, Serg't. Knight. 



CAMP GROUPS, BRIGHTWOOD. 



in a hundred ways. Good illustration of the truth of the 
statement is found in a letter still preserved, sent by the Rev. 
John Hunt, pastor of the Baprist church in Wendell to the 
Wendell members of Company G, viz, Brooks, Green, Lewis, 
Sawyer, Whipple, Amos and T. F. Williams. The letter, 
dated Aug. 27th, praises the men for their devotion to home 
and country, their cheerful endurance of hardship, and 
prompts them to a thorough compliance with all the demands 
of their situation, closing with "Fear God and keep His 
commandments, for this is the whole duty of man." 

The next Sunday, Sept. 1st, there was no service, since the 
entire Regiment had to work on the fort, now known as Fort 
Massachusetts, an appropriate name, since two organizations, 
giving so much of their time to its making, the Seventh and 
the Tenth, were from the Bay State; but one year from this 
day a magnificent soldier from Massachusetts, Major^Gen. 



Sept. 1, '61 Brightwood 37 

Isaac Ingalls Stevens fell in the forefront of battle at Chantilly, 
and thereafter this great defense bore that illustrious soldier's 
name, this being in accord with the policy of the Government 
to thus recall the meritorious dead in giving their names to 
the many defenses of the Capital city. At the close of the war, 
the sixty-eight forts and batteries in and around Washington 
were thus designated. Evidently the resident people of the 
vicinity had grown to depend on the religious services of the 
camp in place of those they were wont to have in the small 
church edifice, once standing in the middle of the fortifica- 
tion which the engineers felt obliged to erect around it. Of 
necessity it was torn down as the breastworks grew and no 
means of grace existed for the citizens between the fort and 
the city. 

The 2d of the month brought an innovation; there was to 
be a brigade review, so the Regiment was called into line at 
9.30 a. m. Shortly after came the other portions of the brigade 
and the complete line was formed. After a wait of an hour or 
so, General Couch in command. General McClellan and staff 
rode into sight. Immediately every man sprang to his place 
and the work began. The brigade stood in open order while 
Generals McClellan and Couch* rode down in front and then 
up between the two ranks. After inspection, the officers stood 
in front of the Colonel's quarters and the brigade, formed 
in companies, marched around the parade ground before them. 
At 1.00 o'clock it was all over, the Colonels taking charge of 
their respective regiments, sought their own camps and the 
distinguished generals rode away. The next day, the 3d, 
there came orders that all should be ready to move at a 
moment's notice, a cry of "Wolf" to which soldiers in all 
wars soon become used. The 11th brought suggestions of 
Springfield in the person of Mr. A. D. Briggs who was accorded 
a hearty welcome by his many friends. 

Sept. 13th, the Tenth received its first visit from the pay- 
master. He did not leave very much per capita, but the 



*These two officers were classmates at West Point, being Nos. 2 
and 13, respectively, of the Class of 1846. 



38 Thk Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

amount, $27.33 in gold or currency at the will of the soldier, 
was gratefully received and a large part of it soon found its 
way home for the comfort of the dependent ones there. This 
day also, was memorable since then Colonel Briggs left his 
command to return to Pittsfield on account of the sudden 
death of his father, the distinguished Ex-Governorf whose 
voice the men had so recently heard on leaving Medford. 

The first funeral in camp was that over the remains of John 
C. Squires of Company I who died of camp fever the 13th, 
and his comrades paid their last tribute the next day, burying 
his body in one corner of the camp ground. Another inspec- 
tion and review came on the 15th, this time by Gen. Don 
Carlos Buell, Division Commander and subsequently famous 
in the western armies. Three hours in length, some of the 
men were obliged to fall out of line on account of the extreme 
heat. For some reason, the cases of typhoid fever had become '\J 
numerous and much was said and written about them. To 
help take care of those afflicted ones two generous women of 
Massachusetts, Mrs. Solyman Merrick of Springfield, and Miss 
Helen Wolcott of Agawam came to Brightwood, Sept. 17th, 
and devoted themselves to the care of the sick in the hospital. 
Their gentle, womanly ways and evident hearty sympathy 
soon won the hearts of all the men, both in the hospital and 
out, so that only the books of Eternity can tell the good their 
coming did. The same day brought back Lieut. Remington 
of Company G with fifty recruits, thus bringing the Regiment 
once more up to the maximum. At midnight of the 17th the 
entire camp was aroused by outpost firing. The long roll 
followed and its dread import was felt, as each man hurried 
to his place. Company I, being first in line was sent on the 
double quick to ascertain the cause of the alarm. Reaching 
the spot, it was learned that the whole uproar was due to 



fGeorge Nixon Briggs, b. April 13, 1796 in Adams, son of one who 
had fought with Allen and Stark at Bennington; the "Governor B." 
of Lowell's Bigloxv Papers; had filled a large place in the Massachu- 
setts heart. He was fatally injured Sept. 4, '61, by the accidental 
discharge of a shotgun, the same falling in a closet where he was 
reaching for a garment. He died Sept. 12, '61. 



Sept. 17, '61 



Brightwood 



39 



King Alcohol, for certain drunken Maryland cavalrymen had 
been firing their revolvers and carbines. 

These were rather days of work than of excitement. The 
forts were steadily growing, the men were perfecting them- 
selves in drill, but there was no fighting, no clash of arms to 




Ass't. Surg. Holbrook, Mrs. Merrick, Hosp. Steward Wells 

Surg. Chamberlain, Miss Wolcott, Unknown. 

AT SURGEON'S TENT, BRIGHTWOOD. 

which, in their dreams, these soldiers had long since attuned 
their ears. There were, however, certain amenities which 
were recorded, one being the presentation, on the 24th, of a 
meerschaum pipe and accompaniments to Captain Day of 
Company G by the members of his Company. It was at 2.00 
p. m. that his loyal followers marched down to his tent and 
put forth Lieutenant Remington and Sergeant Kaulbach to 
represent them; the former called the Captain out while the 
latter made the presentation. The grateful officer responded 
heartily, and with three cheers for the Captain, his "boys" 



40 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

dispersed. On the 25th, Surgeon Chamberlain gave out a 
statement as to the health of the Regiment. In this he com- 
mented on the necessary ailments among any considerable 
number of men trying new scenes, food and water; the effect 
of the epidemic of measles, the reaching the South in the very 
midst of the heated term, all of these causes resulting in con- 
siderable illness in all of the regiments in the vicinity. The 
stay at Kalorama was especially unfortunate and had proved 
so to other regiments. The recent coming to the Brightwood 
camp had changed everything and all were improving. The 
arrival of the two women nurses had been prolific of good; 
malaria, the source of much of the illness, he ascribed to 
exposure to the sun and to night service on picket and similar 
duties. The tone of the statement was hopeful and was useful 
in keeping up the courage of the men, some of whom were 
growing despondent. 

Especially was the hospital lacking in delicacies to encour- 
age the weak and waning appetites. There was very little 
money among the officers and men and there was no regi- 
mental fund. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts had been 
generous when she sent her sons away and had given them 
rations far beyond their power to use, especially when so 
many of the men in those days, owing to seasickness, were not 
troubling the mess table. Much of this store remained un- 
broken in Washington. At a meeting of the line officers, 
Captain Miller presiding, it was voted to sell these unbroken 
packages to the most liberal purchaser and to turn the result 
into a hospital fund. This was done, the rations passing to 
Messrs. G. and T. Parker of Pennsylvania Ave., for about 
half of that for which these gentlemen could immediately sell 
them to the Government. The sick, thereby, were helped a 
very little. 

Sept. 26th was a National Fast Day, and General McClellan 
had ordered army observances, hence the Regiment was formed 
in a hollow square and prayers were read by Colonel Briggs. 
About the time that the 28th began, marching orders were 
received, lines were formed, guns stacked and all were ready 



Sept. 26, '61 Brightwood 41 

to fall in at any moment. "Only this and nothing more." 
At 8.00 p.m. of the 29th, the day Munson Hill, Va., was taken, 
came more scare orders, viz, to be ready "to march across 
the river at noon tomorrow." Did they march? Not across 
the stream, but with everything correctly packed, with two 
days' rations in their haversacks, at 11.00 a. m. on the 30th, 
four companies were ordered into Fort Slocum, not so very 
far away, but it was only about two-thirds finished and there 
was no water to be had inside of a quarter of a mile. Half 
an hour after reaching the fort. General Buell appeared and 
told the men they would garrison the fort, that they were to 
make themselves as comfortable as possible, and that cannon 
would be sent at once to place the fort in condition of defense. 
There was an abundance of lumber near and no time was lost 
in getting at work. At 5.00 o'clock, however, they were or- 
dered to rejoin the Regiment immediately. This they did 
only to find the same in line and the entire brigade under 
arms just ready to march down to brigade headquarters, when 
word was sent that the projected expedition was abandoned 
and the men were dismissed to their quarters. How many 
such abortive orders every regiment had to experience! 
There was one happening at the fort, however, which some of 
the men thought worth the trip there and back. While inside 
the fort, General Buell had left his horse in charge of a member 
of Company A; the latter being bibulously inclined, thought 
the chance too good to be lost, so jumping into the saddle he 
galloped off to Graves's store, a mile away, with the General's 
staff in hot pursuit. But the man had the best horse and, with 
his drink well stored, was on his way back when he encoun- 
tered the provost guard and was sent to camp a prisoner. The 
steed was restored to the General. For this frolic the soldier 
had to do penance a week, standing on the head of a barrel 
with his knapsack filled with sand, an argument for total 
abstinence. The great train of baggage wagons that Massa- 
chusetts had provided for the Tenth had to be turned in to 
the Quartermaster's Department at Washington and the 
twenty-five wagons, then thought insufficient, had now dwin- 



42 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

died to just four. What would become of the baggage ? The 
fact that the Bay State had equipped her early regiments with 
wagons at all was a source of wonder to Washington parties 
and the papers of the day gave the statement a deal of ex- 
ploiting. Evidently the Commonwealth did not believe in 
any half-way business. 

The first Sunday in October, the 6th day, Chaplain Barton, 
by request read to the soldiers a sermon preached in North- 
ampton by the Rev. Dr. Eddy, all listening with evident 
interest. Company E that night took its turn in the fort, 
marching out in a drenching rain, without any shelter. In- 
spection and review in the afternoon had been cut short by 
rain. That religious sentiment abounded in the Tenth appears 
in the fact that some of the men had constructed a bower house 
where they met several times during the week for their common 
good. Saturday, the 12th, orders arrived for the Regiment to 
move to "Riverview," a high point some three miles from 
Brightwood to complete a fortification which had been under 
way for some time. Four hundred men were detailed to clean 
up the camp, lately occupied by Anderson's Zouaves (62d 
New York) and they had not left it in exactly apple pie order. 
Farmers living near said they were glad the Zouaves had 
gone, evidently thinking them careless of the laws of mine and 
thine. One good lady, living near, said by way of illustration 
of the Zou-Zous free and easy ways that she frequently had 
dinner prepared for the family, when a party of those fellows 
would come in, sit down and eat the entire meal, and then go 
away without so much as a "thank you." Possibly the 
soldiers thought they were "spoiling the Egyptians." Hardly 
had the ground been cleaned up, the filth and rubbish burned, 
and the place had begun to take on a habitable look, when 
orders came for the men to return to camp at once and pre- 
pare four days' rations for a long march. They double-quicked 
back to camp, had the rations in the pots, when new orders 
arrived to cook only one day's rations. Orders and counter 
orders continued to come until four o'clock the next morning, 



Oct. 13, '61 Brightwood 43 

the last one saying, "Let the men go to bed and wait further 
orders." Never was command more cheerfully obeyed. 

A letter written on the 13th by Asa C. Merrill of Com- 
pany H, later to fall at Fair Oaks, telling his grandmother of 
his life in camp is a realistic presentation of just how a boy in 
the ranks saw the passing scenes : 

Sundays we go out to be inspected, but we do not drill. 
Captain Miller will not allow any of his men to play cards on 
Sundays. * * * There is a meeting house, made of 
branches, just outside of our lines and two meetings a week 
are held in it. There are reports around that two men of our 
Company are to be shot for sleeping on their posts. We had 
not heard of any one's sleeping here. There are reports that 
we do not live well. In our tent there are seventeen men; we 
have a floor in it, and have ticks to sleep on. We have enough 
to eat and it is a great deal better than I had expected. * 
* * We have to work on the fort every five days, we 

work three hours and it is not very hard work. When the 
men go and when they come back they have their whiskey. 
I have not tasted any yet. 

An incident of this same date, the 13th, is thus recorded by 
one of the "boys": 

Lucien Fogg (H), was on guard last night at Fort 
Massachusetts. The brigade officer came around to try 
Lucien and see if he understood his duty; he gave the 
wrong countersign and fired his pistol close to Lucien, 
when the latter returned the compliment by firing his musket 
at the officer's head, taking off a shoulder strap with his 
bullet. It ought to have taken his head off. The officer was 
Lieut. Colonel of the 36th New York, who thought the guard 
one of his own men and that his gun was not loaded. 

The 15th had a record of forty men in the regimental hospi- 
tal and seventy-five more unable to do duty, not a favorable 
comment on the recent halcyon view of the surgeon. Fatigue 
rations of a gill of whiskey a day were allowed. Some of the 
men, through principle, did not take theirs, but the majority 
walked up and absorbed the liquid without apparent scruples. 
New army fatigue caps in blue were now worn by the men in 
place of the hideous mud-colored felt hats brought from 
Massachusetts. On this day the camp was visited by Mr- 



44 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

Benj. F. Bowles of Springfield who was visiting camps on both 
sides of the Potomac. Governor John A. Andrew honored the 
Regiment by appearing at Bright wood on Thursday, the 17th. 
He had come to Washington to see about the payment of 
certain Massachusetts claims and what more natural than that 
he should seek out the accessible regiments from the Bay 
State. The same day came Postmaster General Montgomery 
Blair, the camp being near his home. The next day a similar 
visit was expected from President Lincoln, but he failed to 
appear, much to the disappointment of the men who had put 
their camp in perfect order for his coming. The battle of 
Ball's Bluff, some miles to the northward on the Potomac, 
on the 21st, was a sad repetition of the Bull Run disaster, 
inflicting terrible loss on two Massachusetts regiments, the 
15th and the 20th. 

A reminder of the previous day's fight came to the Regiment 
the 22d in the shape of orders to be ready to march with three 
days' cooked rations, but the enemy, again as at Bull Run, 
did not follow up his advantage. So the Tenth remained in 
camp and there consumed the rations. An improvement in 
the heating appliances of the camp made its appearance in 
some of the tents through the genius of some Yankee who dug 
a hole in the ground within the tent, having a trench leading 
outside for his smoke funnel, with an old barrel for a chimney. 
The hole and the ditch were covered over with stone save an 
opening for draught. All went well with a roaring fire in the 
hole, till the first rain came down the chimney and put the fire 
out. Visitors from the Bay State were becoming somewhat 
frequent, for on the 27th came George Walker, Esq., of 
Springfield and Oliver Warner of Northampton, then in the 
fourth year of his Secretaryship of the Commonwealth, an 
office he was to continue to hold till 1876. The 29th there 
was battalion drill from 9.00 till 12.00 m., and at 1.30 p. m. 
all marched down to Columbia College Hospital where a 
division drill was conducted under the direction of General 
Buell, not getting back to camp until after dark. The pro- 
gramme of the 29th was repeated the following day. 



Nov. 10, '61 Brightwood 45 

Time passed in an uneventful manner, made up of drill, 
inspections, reviews and fatigue work on the fort, yet all of 
them contributing to the well-being of the Regiment. Novem- 
ber, so bleak and uninviting, entered and on Sunday, the 
10th, came several Springfield gentlemen just to make 
neighborly calls, though Dr. Wm. G. Breck had come to look 
after Adjutant Edwards who was suffering from a serious 
attack of typhoid fever. Nov. 13th the brigade was reviewed 
on the grounds of the Columbia College Hospital by Gen. E. D. 
Keyes who had succeeded General Buell, Nov. 10th, in com- 
mand of the division. The 16th brought reminders of the 
approach of the first Thanksgiving in camp, in that a box came 
from Spencer containing many articles of clothing ; everybody 
from that section was happy since no one was forgotten, even 
those having no near friends there being remembered. The 
20th made Company I happy with three huge boxes from the 
home towns represented. Not only was there clothing for 
winter, but there was the material for a Thanksgiving dinner; 
forty turkeys and chickens, a fifty-pound cheese with all the 
requisite fixings for just such a dinner as the men would have 
had at home. To the resulting dinner all the men from the two 
places enlisted in other companies, as well as Company I were 
invited, and all could eat to satiety if they wished. The 
amount of clothing, including bed comfortables, socks, under- 
garments, etc., was a witness to the generosity of the folks 
at home. One of the boxes contained lint, bandages and other 
articles for use in the hospitals, everything being useful. As 
to the Thanksgiving dinner coming on the 21st, it would seem 
that all of the companies were provided for by the friends in 
the North. Among other good things, Company K had roast 
beef, cooked in the kitchen of Frank P. Blair, whose house 
was to be destroyed by the Rebels in the famous July attack 
of 1864. 

The following letter indicates clearly the condition of affairs 
in camp at this time, since the date is Nov. 26th: 

We go to brigade drill, every day nearly, going in the morn- 
ing down to Columbia College hospital, about four miles away 



46 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

We get back about three o'clock and after that drill no more 
for the day. If it is cold enough, I wish you would get a kit 
of apple sauce and send us as that would go well with dry 
bread and no butter. We have got one of the best Regiments 
about here. The peope all wish to have us stay, and Mont- 
gomery Blair is trying to get us comfortable quarters down 
in the city. I don't believe there is a colonel around Wash- 
ington who is thought more of by his men than ours. He thinks 
as much of his Regiment as a father does of a child. The 
Saturday before Thanksgiving (16th) we were reviewed by 
Governor Andrew who is a short, thick set man. Our General 
Couch is a Massachusetts man and he thinks more of us than 
of any other regiment. 

Unconsciously, the writer pays a high tribute to the Gen- 
eral whose demeanor towards his men was such that, very 
likely, each regiment thought, if it did did not express, the 
same sentiment. 

Another feature of army life appeared in an article in the 
Springfield Republican of Nov. 27th, in which it is shown that 
sixty copies of the Tri-Weekly Republican and twenty copies 
each of the Congrcgationalist, Zion's Herald and the Watch- 
man and Reflector had been sent to the Regiment for three 
months. Funds were then exhausted and circulars were 
being sent throughout the four western counties asking for 
means to keep up the good work ; the papers themselves were 
forwarded free by the Adams Express Co. whose agent, Geo. 
P. Geer of Springfield, was to receive contributions. He had 
ever been a good friend of the Regiment. Is there any record 
of a war where every possible want of the soldiers was so 
carefully provided for? On this date, the 27th, Company E 
received a liberal donation of blankets from the people of 
Indian Orchard. The month went out "wet, cold and 
muddy." 

December opened on Sunday and one of the hospital tents 
being empty, religious services were conducted there by the 
Chaplain, the meeting being exceedingly interesting; the 
exercises concluded with a touching prayer by the Colonel. 
More quilts, blankets and comfortables came on the 5th from 
Springfield, contributions of loyal friends, though forwarded 



Dec. 1, '61 Brightwood 47 

by Mr. Edmund Bigelow, a brother of Lieut. Bigelow of Com- 
pany F. Still further donations of a similar character were 
received on the 12th from the Soldiers' Aid Society of Holyoke, 
the summary including a wide range of clothing and provisions; 
Company I, by this time becoming so well provided that it 
was able to distribute some of its excess with less fortunate 
members of other companies. While not specially interested 
in the affairs of its neighbors one diarist notes a duel between 
two members of the 36th New York, in which one was fatally 
wounded, dying the next day. More home giving was seen 
in the receiving, on this day, of a large quantity of blankets 
(195), comfortables and other articles for Company F. Many 
items were marked for particular individuals, the remainder 
were, given out to those needing them most. The boxes were 
made up from the gifts of people in Springfield, West Spring- 
field, Longmeadow, Monson, Feeding Hills and Amherst. 
Special praise is due to Mrs. Justin Ely of West Springfield, 
Mrs. Charles Arthur, Mrs. Wm. Rice, Mrs. Josiah Hooker and 
the Soldiers' Rehef Society of Springfield. 

During December the Regiment appHed itself diHgently to 
the building of barracks, it becoming quite evident that the 
winter would be spent in Brightwood. Tents could not keep 
out the cold of a Washington winter and more substantial 
provision was made. Subscriptions were taken up among the 
officers and men for the purchase of boards and nails for roofs, 
bunks, etc., and all the expense was borne by the men from 
their scanty pay, as well as for the small stoves that were to 
heat the interiors. Some part of the outlay came out of the 
respective company funds. Some companies had one long 
structure for the entire membership; others built a number 
of smaller huts, equal to the needs of the men occupying them. 
The body of the structures was made in real pioneer log-house 
style, the material being for the most part cottonwood, the 
same being easily cut or split. Where there were so many to 
work the progress was rapid, and when done, all felt quite 
comfortably housed for the winter, though there exists such 
a record as this, "Our barracks fell down today, when we had 



48 



The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 



got them nearly done. Several of the boys were bruised, but 
no one was seriously hurt." The roofs were covered with tarred 
paper. Some of the officers built ten by twelve huts back 




WINTER QUARTERS, BRIGHTWOOD. NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS, CO. F. 
Pencil Sketch by Corp. L. F. Babcock. 

of the tents and several had the company of their respective 
wives during the winter. Among these ladies were Mesdames 
Briggs, Marsh, Parsons, Barton, Day, Walkley, Lombard, 
Ives, Newell, Traver, Pierce, Shurtlefif, Keith and Remington. 
Surgeon Chamberlain, Dec. 26th, gave publicity through 
the Springfield Republican to his acknowledgments for the 
many favors received by the Regiment for the care of the sick, 
those thanked residing in many of the considerable towns and 
the only city in the sections furnishing the soldiers. At the 
same time he stated that the health of the Regiment was excel- 
lent, better than might be expected considering the variable 
character of the climate. Mention was made of the fall epidemic 
of fever and the report of Surgeons Charles O'Leary (Brigade), 
S. A. Holman (7th Mass.), and N. R. Moseley (36th N. Y.). 
concerning the same, dated Oct. 8th, was appended in which 
these officers ascribed the trouble to the former epidemic of 
measles, the wet, marshy places of encampment, both in 
Massachusetts and near Washington, and to climatic changes 
from the elevated regions of Western Massachusetts to the 



Jan. 2, '62 Brightwood 49 

much lower one of the coast. They gave all praise to Surgeon 
Chamberlain and Assistant Surgeon Holbrook for the efficient 
manner in which they had performed their respective duties. 

1862 

January 2d the startling news was heard that the regimental 
hospital had a genuine case of small pox, and much anxiety 
was had lest the disease spread. The victim was Henry M. 
Hunt of Company F, no one knowing the source of his infection. 
He was removed to the hospital for contagious diseases where 
he died Jan. 6th; very much liked by his comrades, his death 
was appropriately noticed by the Springfield Republican of 
the 11th. His case was the only one, but there was a time of 
general vaccination, the companies marching up to the sur- 
geons with bared arms and receiving their quantum of virus 
in a manner more or less willing. About three hours were 
employed in disposing of the whole regiment, or one thousand 
men, but the sore arms were in evidence for long weeks after- 
wards. No exceptions were made, men taking their respective 
portions who had passed through well authenticated courses 
of the disease. No subsequent case ever appeared in the Tenth. 

Dated Jan. 8, '62, a letter was written in Brightwood for home 
reading and it is quite appropriately inserted in this con- 
nection : 

We are in our houses now. They are quite comfortable 
and convenient, though we had to buy all of the lumber. Our 
hut is 18 by 12 feet, with three rows (tiers) of bunks; they are 
intended to accommodate eighteen men. In our hut we have 
a stove with oven, kettle, etc. We have not been paid o^ 
yet, though it is time, since we sent in our rolls first of any regi- 
ment this side of the river. When my box got here, about a 
month ago, there was a great clamor and much laughter heard 
in our section. I don't believe I could have put up so good 
an assortment if I had been at home myself. All the boys 
thought those pies the only ones they had seen since leaving 
Massachusetts. The box came just in time, for we were all 
out of money and were living on mouldy hard bread. That 
shawl was just the thing for guard. The boys get it every 
night when they go on guard. Colonel Briggs got back last 



50 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

night, and just as soon as dress parade was over, before we 
had had time to take off our equipments he was with us, 
wanting to know how we were. He came to us first because 
our quarters come first in the first company. He went through 
all the companies in like manner. All cheered him, and we 
were as glad to see him as if he had been one of our own folks. 
I believe we have the best Colonel in the army and we cer- 
tainly have the best Captain in the Regiment. Not a man 
from our Company (H) has been in the guardhouse yet, the 
only company that can truthfully say it. The Colonel's wife 
was here a short time ago. She is as good, motherly looking 
a woman as one needs to see. She was in the hospital nearly 
all the time, caring for the men. * * * w^e do 

not drill much now, it is so slippery. We have a miserable 
guard tent but a better one is to be put up today. I am 
reading the Bible in course, three chapters of the Old and as 
many of the New Testament each day. Sometimes I should 
like to see your old Scott's Bible. 

The return of Colonel Briggs, mentioned in the letter, was 
his coming back to the Regiment from memorial services, held 
some time after his father's death. His reception by the men 
must have been exceedingly cheering to him. Records of these 
January days emphasize the prevalence and the depth of the 
mud, that "on the parade ground being from four to five 
inches deep." Certain Spencer people were visiting their 
friends in camp, Messrs. J. S. Bullard, J. F. Ward and R. A. 
Sibley, and those visited remarked on their muddy reception, 
but the men cheered up over the expectation of a dinner to be 
prepared by the Captain's wife, Mrs. Walkley. The 13th was 
also the date of the resignation of Assistant Surgeon Holbrook, 
to become Surgeon of the 18th Mass. The paymaster, long 
expected, came on the 13th and gladdened everybody's heart 
with two months' pay, this time in treasury notes instead of 
gold, stating that specie had become very scarce, a foretaste 
of the metallic famine to prevail for so many years. Another 
northern visitor came Jan. 18th, this time to Company B, in 
the person of that Company's special patron and friend, 
Sylvander Johnson of North Adams. He had an ovation on 
arriving and a supper, served in one of the hospital tents. His 



Feb. 6, '62 Brightwood 51 

impressions of camp fare are not recorded. The remaining 
items for January, important or otherwise, are written in mud, 
so characteristic of the District of Columbia at that time. 

February afforded no particular change in local conditions 
from those of the preceding month, but it was noteworthy on 
account of a sad affair happening on the 6th in the discharge 
of guard duty. Lewis C. Carter, a private of Company K, 
on duty with the provost guard, was stationed with his com- 
rades along the road to Washington. Such guards were placed 
every half mile, all the way from the camps to the city. It 
was the duty of the guard to stop every soldier without a pass 
whether going or coming. On this morning about ten o'clock 
a member of Company D, 7th Mass., attempted to run the 
guard on his way back to camp. Having been ordered to 
halt by Carter and disregarding the summons, the guard fired 
with excellent aim, the ball striking the man in the left side 
and coming out of his back. The soldier was not killed and 
the surgeon said he would recover with proper care, but the 
affair created considerable feeling between the two regiments, 
though the guard was undoubtedly performing his duty. 
Hutchinson, the historian of the Seventh, does not mention 
the incident.* The 10th had regimental note in that then Dr. 
Geo. J. Jewett of Fitchburg arrived to take the place of Assist- 
ant Surgeon Holbrook who went as Surgeon, rank of Major, 
to the 18th Mass., Colonel James Barnes of Springfield com- 
manding. It is just possible that the proximity of Palmer and 
Springfield may have had something to do with the promotion. 



*The following letter from Lieut James E. Seaver of Taunton, is 
interesting in the above connection: 

"The soldier who was wounded was James D. Mitchel, and he died 
from his wound at his home in Taunton, April — , '62. I recall the 
affair very well; saw Mitchell when brought into camp, as at that 
time I was a sergeant of the Company. He had left camp without 
leave, and made a visit to Washington; at that time our camp was at 
the junction of Seventh and Fourteenth streets at Brightwood, some 
half a mile from the toll-gate. He evaded the guard gomg, but was 
not so fortunate in returning and, when challenged by the sentmel, 
ran and was shot." A sad ending for a life that had seen only twenty 
years. 



Feb. 14, '62 Brightwood 53 

At any rate, all were glad of the Doctor's advance, though 
sorry to lose him, since he had been a faithful and efhcient 
officer. 

The presence of officers' wives in the camp brought gladness 
to the hearts of Company G men about this time, when Mrs. 
Captain Day and Mrs. Lieut. Remington volunteered to go 
to the cook house and fry cakes for the men. What New 
England soldier's appetite would not get on edge at the thought ! 
The boys declared the only trouble with the affair was, it 
made them homesick. As the full Government rations were 
more than the men would regularly eat, it was deemed proper 
to establish a company fund to be accumulated from the selling 
of rations, not drawn, or rather receiving in money their 
cash value. In this manner, some companies were able to 
supply items such as pepper, blacking, etc., not supplied by 
the Government. Not until the 14th did the glorious news 
from Roanoke reach the Tenth. It was really almost the only 
ray of sunshine thus far gleaming through the cloud-covered 
disunion skies. The band tuned up with "Hail Columbia," 
" Red, White and Blue" and "Yankee Doodle," while the men 
held jubilation meetings all over the parade ground. Still 
there was a drop of bitterness in this cup of victory for some, 
since Sargent of Company K records the fact that his father 
had been killed on the 8th, while pressing forward with the 
21st Mass. His heart pangs were those of many a loyal soul 
in those trying days. 

Just after guard mount, the 15th, every man on duty 
belonging to the Regiment was ordered into line, naturally 
exciting no little remark among the men as they hastily 
obeyed, some thinking that the alleged request of General 
Buell that his favorite division might be sent to him in the 
west, was about to be announced. Battalion line was first 
formed and then the hollow square, when Colonel Briggs read 
an order from headquarters caUing for volunteers for the 
western gunboat service. That humanity welcomes a change, 
no matter what it is, was apparent as more than two hundred 
men expressed a desire to be thus transferred. As, however. 



54 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

the announcement followed that only ten men could be taken 
from any one Regiment and that all must be good sailors the 
contingent dwindled to just nine men, as follows: Wm. Levy 
(A), Corp. Nathan O. Blinn and John Boyle (B), Frank Boise 
(C), John H. Ross (D), Benj. F. Brady (F), Peter Bard (H), 
Joseph A. Winn (I), Henry L. Copley (K). This detachment 
left the next morning for their new scene of service in the west, 
their subsequent career being summarized in the rosters of 
the several companies. Their going away from their com- 
rades was not without its affecting features. It was six weeks 
from pay day and the men were penniless, though otherwise 
they had a proper outfit. Learning their impecunious condi- 
tion, the Colonel passed over a ten dollar bill to Corporal Blinn, 
telling him to use it as needed. After a hearty handshake all 
round, the sailor lads departed, giving three cheers for Colonel 
Briggs as they went. 

Lieut. Col. Decker was the first to bring to camp the news 
of the taking of Fort Donelson by General Grant, on the 16th. 
Being in the Senate gallery he had heard the glorious tidings 
as announced to the Senate. As after Roanoke, enthusiasm 
again broke loose and with the band and cheers from the men, 
the welkin was made to ring. New uniforms were given out, 
dark blue frock coats with light blue trousers and overcoats, 
thus reaching about what was generally worn later, though 
for field service, the frock coat gave place to the blouse. The 
news from Donelson was reaffirmed the 18th, when, in the 
morning, regimental line was formed and a general order 
from brigade headquarters was read announcing the fact, with 
further statement that 15,000 men in arms had been captured- 
Three cheers were given by the men and a salute of thirty- 
four guns was fired from Fort Massachusetts. Washington's 
Birthday was observed fittingly by the Tenth. The morning 
breeze brought from the camp of the 2d Rhode Island the 
strains of their excellent band; dress parade came at 9.30 
a. m. with the reading of Washington's Farewell Address 
though the weather was stormy. After dismissal, the remain- 
der of the day was given to target practice with a prize of ten 



Feb. 23, '62 Brightwood 55 

dollars offered to the best regimental shot and others of five 
dollars each to the best shot in the several companies. 

Illustrative of the buoyancy excited by the victories at 
Roanoke and Donelson, as well as the nearby capture of Fort 
Henry, the following letter is inserted, the same bearing date 
Feb. 23, 1862: 

All the talk is now over going home ; many think we will 
be home by the Fourth of July. I think we will see all of the 
fighting done in a few months. I hope so. This war is costing 
us two or three millions a day, of which not more than $500,000 
will be paid as we go, thus leaving the Nation horriblv in debt. 
Nearly all hope of going off this ground has died out ; it is 
impossible for us to move now on account of the mud which 
is about six inches deep. Tonight (Sunday) we were formed 
in hollow square when the chaplain prayed and the band 
played "Old Hundred." 

How fortunate it is that "Heaven from all creatures hides 
the Book of Fate," else how unhappy these young soldiers 
would have been! There was not a month during the long 
four years, when some optimistic fellow was not singing the 
changes on, "We're going home; we're going home," and, 
deluded though he was, he did a world of good in keeping 
alive the spark of hope, only faintly glimmering in some poor 
breasts. 

" So near and yet so far" was well illustrated the 27th, when 
at 4.50 p. m. on the formation of regimental line, an order 
from General Keyes was read ordering the Tenth to report at 
the Baltimore & Ohio depot the next day, line to be formed 
at 2.00 a. m. and to be in the city on or before 6.00 o'clock; 
each man to carry one hundred rounds of ball cartridges, 
forty in his cartridge box and sixty in his knapsack; one 
blanket, one change of clothing, one extra pair of shoes and 
four days' rations. Preparations were well advanced for the 
early start when at 8.00 p. m., the orders were countermanded. 
The making and unmaking of orders began early in the war 
and never ceased; for that matter, 'twas ever thus. 

While everyone knew well that the war was begun for the 
preservation of the Union, all were equally aware that it could 



56 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

not continue a very great while without trouble over the slavery 
question. These soldiers from Massachusetts were not in- 
clined to do any great number of favors for the slave holders 
of Maryland and Virginia. Some months before General 
Butler had declared the negro "contraband of war," a dictum 
the average soldier thought pretty good gospel. Other regi- 
ments had resented, in unequivocal terms, the proposition 
that they should turn slave catchers, and liberty-loving men 
from Western Massachusetts could hardly be expected to 
prove exceptions to the general attitude of the Commonwealth. 
February, '62 was several months before President Lincoln 
issued his Emancipation Proclamation, but these soldiers had 
notions of their own as to what treatment was due the slave 
hunter as well as the reception they should accord the escaping 
bondman. Inevitably the runaway slaves appeared in the 
Brightwood camp and coming as they did from the plantations 
of people the greater part of whom were out-and-out "secesh," 
the "boys" did not view their forced return with any great 
degree of complacency. Such were the conditions that gave 
rise to a very entertaining episode in regimental life. 

The Raid into Maryland came about in this way: Saturday 
afternoon, March 1st, while the Regiment was on dress parade, 
six Marylanders came into camp after some negroes who were 
cooking and washing for the soldiers. About the story there 
is a deal of hearsay, but it was reported that Colonel Briggs 
had told the nominal owner to "Take his nigger if he could 
get him." Be this as it may, some of the men who were off 
duty, and suspecting the errand of the natives, followed them 
to a cook house where was employed a negro whom one of the 
men claimed as his property. On being asked if he belonged 
to the man, the negro replied, "I did once, but I b'long to 
myself now." So the slave catcher was told that if the negro 
wanted to go with him, he might, otherwise not. A ring having 
been formed, the fun-loving soldiers gave the contraband a 
chance to talk to his "Ole Mas'r" in a manner he never 
enjoyed before. He rehearsed some of the alleged utterances 
of the master when the Baltimore fight of April 19th took 



Mar. 1, '62 Nolan's Raid 57 

place, clearly proving the white man a thorough Rebel. It 
did not help his cause when the ex-slave accused him of calling 
Massachusetts soldiers released convicts. 

No part of the negro's story was denied and when the parade 
was dismissed and the other boys came flocking round, the 
six men betook themselves up the river, without obtaining any 
part of their alleged property. No one who knows has ever 
told just how the scheme was devised. Perhaps like Topsy, 
it "Jes' grow'd." At any rate the next step in the story was 
taken at about 8.30 that evening, when an officer of Company 
I, having occasion to visit the quarters of his men, found some 
of them missing. The Captain having been notified a roll call 
was ordered, when it appeared that forty-seven men were not 
accounted for. A like course in the other companies, produced 
similar results. It appeared that many of the soldiers thought 
it would be a good idea to administer the oath of allegiance to 
some of the arrogant planters of Maryland and, accordginly, 
after roll call eight different squads took their guns and equip- 
ments and started due north. After marching about eight 
miles northward, they came to the home of Nolan, the slave 
owner who had been in the camp in the afternoon, having had 
their road pointed out by "George," the individual who had 
revealed some of the language of Nolan. On reaching the 
house, some of the boys and one of the negroes went in. 
Whereupon, Mrs. Nolan, mother of the claimant, stepped up 
and laying her hand on the negro said, "This is my property." 
Again came back the words, "Yes, Missus, I was once, but 
I own myself now." Whereupon, greatly angered. Madam 
Nolan, doubHng her fist, struck the negro full in the face. 
By this time the house was full of the soldiers and their 
accompanying guides and before they left they had compelled 
the Nolans, on bended knee, to take the oath of allegiance to 
the United States. 

While this drama was being played in the house, the boys 
outside were by no means idle, and whatever was not nailed 
down and could be conveniently carried off was taken posses- 
sion of. Nor did the raiders confine their attentions to the 



58 The Tenth Massachusetts Inf.vntry 

Nolans alone. They assumed that there were other disloyal 
farmers along the way so that many feathered trophies made 
their way into camp that night in spite of vicissitudes. As 
usual, the retreat was much more difficult than the advance, 
for the officers soon learning the route taken by the raiders, 
took immediate steps to intercept them on their return. 
Company D, under Captain Clapp, acting as camp picket, was 
thrown out half a mile from camp and formed a line across 
the road and through the woods, spreading themselves out 
so as to catch the runaways on their return. As soon as they 
were caught, they were disarmed, their names taken (all sorts 
of names, except the true ones were given), and they were 
sent to their quarters after a reprimand by the Colonel. 
Doubtless their punishment would have been severe had not 
the immediate exigencies of the campaign demanded the 
services of every man, there being no time, even if there was 
a disposition to punish the men for an excess of zeal in dealing 
with a confessed hater of the flag. Some of the men succeeded 
in running the guard on getting back to camp, and it is told 
by them to this day, that certain of that night's plunder 
graced the tables of officers, for they were not supposed to know 
the origin of all that they received and if they did suspect, 
after all, they were just as human as their men. It is recorded 
that some one had to pay $1,900.00 for that night's fun.* 

The 5th is firmly fixed in memory for then came the orders 
to be in readiness to move at any moment. The oft repeated 
directions as to cartridges, rations, etc., were heard and the 
wonder arose if anything would come of this. Men practiced 
in firing with knapsacks on; each one of the latter had been 
marked in white paint with the number of the regiment and 



*More than forty years later, or in the winter of 1903 and 4, Wm. 
H. Adams, "G," was engaged in putting in hlter beds for the city of 
Washington. A number of carpenters were employed, among them 
one Samuel Nolan. The name recalled "Nolan's Raid" to Adams 
who was one of the " patriots" in that memorable event and, making 
inquiries, he learned that his carpenter was a brother of the Maryland 
planter, so summarily "encouraged" in loyalty, and he even intimated 
that his brother got no more than was his due on that occasion. In- 
vited to Nolan's home, Adams repeatedly enjoyed his hospitality. 



Mar. 10, '62 Peninsulak Campaign 59 

the letter of the company. This day, also, the Colonel read 
an order from headquarters that every contraband should be 
driven from the camp, the same occasioning considerable 
excitement among both officers and men. Some one, mis- 
chievously inclined, had posted in a prominent place a placard 
threatening mutiny if the order were obeyed. Until the 10th 
there was a deal of drilling with knapsacks on and exercise 
in the manual of arms. 

It was Monday morning, the 10th, soon after midnight, 
when the Adjutant awoke the officers and informed them of 
the orders to be ready to march in light order at daybreak. 
Line was formed at 7.00 a. m., and with three cheers for the 
old camp at Bright wood, the order to march was heard and 
the Regiment started for Chain Bridge, one of the famous ways 
across the Potomac, with the expectations of uniting with the 
brigades of Peck (2d) and Graham (1st), but through some 
error they had gone on. The river was passed and the Regi- 
ment struggled up the slope with Fort Marcy at the right and 
Ethan Allen at the left, both with guns trained upon the 
approaches of the bridge. Everything combustible had been 
swept clear by the army, except now and then a dwelling, this 
being of a very poor class. Three miles from the bridge the 
village of Langley was passed, the route being southerly, 
passing the deserted camps of the Union soldiers who had 
gone on ahead. At Prospect Hill, the Manassas and Leesburg 
turnpikes intersect and here at 5.00 p. m. the Regiment halted, 
being about twelve miles from Bright wood, and here were 
found the missing brigades with the artillery and cavalry of 
Keyes's division. 

PENINSULAR CAMPAIGN 

Though the active participants knew it not they were taking 
preliminary steps in the first great movement against Rich- 
mond, if the unfortunate affair of the first Bull Run be ex- 
cepted. Wearied by the prolonged waiting of McClellan, his 
ever insisting on increased armament, his continuous organ- 
izing. President Lincoln, Jan. 27th, had issued an order com- 



60 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

manding a general advance upon the enemy from every quar- 
ter on the 22d of February. Four days later a Special Order was 
issued directing General McClellan, before the 22d, to "impel 
all the disposable portion of the Army of the Potomac for 
the purpose of seizing and holding a point upon the railroad 
southwestward of what is known as Manassas Junction." 
Though signed by the President, the orders bore unmistak- 
able indications of the presence in the War Department of 
Edwin M. Stanton who had succeeded, as War Secretary, 
Simon Cameron of Pennsylvania. The President on the 8th 
of March issued his second Special Order dividing the Army of 
the Potomac into four corps with the troops on the upper 
Potomac constituting a fifth, General N. P. Banks of Massa- 
chusetts in command. General McClellan's original plan had 
been to move towards Richmond from the lower Rappahan- 
nock, landing at Urbana, a day's march from West Point, a 
course which would leave the enemy free to assail Washington, 
from the start his most coveted prey. The President did not 
fancy this exposure and several communications passed 
between the President and his General-in-Chief. However, 
after receiving indubitable proof that the enemy had evacuated 
Manassas, March 8th, though still purposing to advance by a 
route from the southeast, he gave the order to march into 
Virginia, as he said, for "an opportunity to gain some experi- 
ence on the march and bivouac, preparatory to the campaign, 
and to get rid of the superfluous baggage and other 'impedi- 
menta ' which accumulate so easily around an army encamped 
a long time in one locality." It was on the very next day 
after that in which the brigade found itself marching into 
Virginia, that the President relieved McClellan of his general 
supervision and restricted his duties to those of commanding 
the Army of the Potomac. Two days later or the 13th, at a 
council of his generals, held at Fairfax Court House, it was 
decided to debark the army at Old Point Comfort and thence 
proceed up the Peninsula. 

In the foregoing scheme, the Tenth Massachusetts was a 
mere pawn on McClellan's chess board. Presumably it gained 



Mak. 11, '62 Lewinsville 61 

its share of marching and bivouacking experience, and no 
doubt shed enough of its superfluous "impedimenta " to satisfy 
the expectations of the General. Superfluous or otherwise, the 
men were certainly carrying a deal of baggage and heavy bur- 
dens of ammunition, but no more than the orders called for. 
The night was cold and raw but fatigue made slumber sweet 
until midnight when a heavy rain dispelled all thoughts of 
sleep and made every one wish for the morning. It came at 
last, ushering in the 11th, clear and cold, all awaiting orders 
which failed to come. Observing men noted the desolation 
wrought by armed camps whether those of friend or foe. 
Lewinsville was deserted, save for a single house and there 
was difficulty in finding material to help out their scant pro- 
^vjsion for shelter. The camp was near the house belonging 
to Catesby A. R. Jones, once a Lieutenant in our Navy, but 
now in the Confederate service, who commanded the Merri- 
mac in her second day's fight with the Monitor. The mansion 
was deserted in a hurry, apparently, and Yankee boys exer- 
cised their proverbial curiosity in examining its contents. 
This family of Joneses had long been famous in Virginian 
history, Thomas Catesby Jones having won distinction as a 
naval officer in the War of 1812, dying in 1858. It was said 
that two sons of the long named officer were also in the Rebel 
service. At any rate if the family papers contained any 
secrets they would certainly be revealed in the overhauling 
then received. The ruins of a near-by dwelling afforded 
excellent facilities, especially the sentinel-like chimneys, for 
the cooking exploits of the soldiers. 

The men in the Regiment did not know of the enemy's 
retirement from Manassas until the 12th, when the news was 
disseminated. Evidently Joe Johnston, successor to Beaure- 
gard who had gone to the western army, had suspected the 
plans of McClellan and governed himself accordingly. Many 
of the prominent officers were of the opinion that, at no time, 
had there been a force in Manassas, which could have with- 
stood McClellan had he chosen to advance. General Keyes 
was ordered to Washington, and as General Couch took com- 



62 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

mand of the Division, Colonel Briggs for the nonce was at 
the head of the brigade. The 13th dawned cold, raw and 
drizzly and without tents and rubber blankets the men were 
not enjoying their trip to Virginia, nor were they conscious 
of any great amount of "superfluous" clothing. As General 
Keyes became the Commander of the entire Corps (Fourth), 
General Couch went to the head of the division (First) and 
Colonel Briggs remained over the brigade (Third). At 6.00 
p. m. orders were received to march in the morning to Chain 
Bridge and there await further orders. Agreeable to the direc- 
tion of the night before, the Regiment marched to the bridge 
on the 14th, reaching it about noon and halted under the guns 
of Fort Marcy. At 5.00 in the afternoon we made our bivouac 
in the ravines and under the pines below the fort, where some 
degree of rest might have been had were it not for the rain 
which soon began and continued all night. 

Saturday, the 15th, brought no relief; if possible, troubles 
were intensified, for rain fell all day, and there was nothing to 
protect the men except branches of fir trees and their woolen 
blankets which were soon wet through, so that all were 
quickly drenched to the skin. So heavy was the downpour, 
fires were out of the question and the Tenth was a bedraggled 
lot. Towards night a ration of whiskey, red pepper and 
quinine was given out to keep off the chills. At 6.00 o'clock 
General Couch gave permission to cross the river and return 
to Bright wood, a privilege that the majority accepted with 
pleasure, for any change would afiford some relief. In half an 
hour, the wagons were loaded and the move began. The 
march, however, made an impression on the memory. Ac- 
counts vary as to the depth of the mud, all the way from 
ankle to knee deep. The roads had been washed and gullied 
by the rain, the night was pitch dark and all one's strength 
was necessary to advance at all, but visions of shelter and 
warm fires in Brightwood cheered and encouraged the weary 
plodders, until at one o'clock Sunday morning they got back 
to their old quarters, i. e., those who were vigorous enough to 
keep the pace; some did not start with the Regiment but 



Mar. 22, '62 Bhichtwood 63 

remained near the bridge till morning and then picked their 
way by daylight, so that men were coming into camp until 
afternoon, indeed the last did not straggle in for two days. 
A lesson was had by this trip as to the impossibility of carry- 
ing such enormous knapsacks; some threw away overcoats 
and blankets, others knapsacks themselves with all their 
contents, preferring to take the consequences rather than 
make pack peddlers of themselves. Whiskey was given out 
as a solace and stimulant to the companies after the long and 
trying march. 

Fortunately the barracks, so long the comfortable quarters, 
were found as they had been left and the boys thought them 
the very next thing to home as they lay down for rest and 
dryness. For several days there was nothing doing except to 
^''"^^-Gl^ar away the effects of the march to Prospect Hill and back, 
and to further prepare for the real departure which certainly 
was now impending. On the 22d came orders for ofificers to 
reduce their baggage to a small satchel or hand bag, orders 
which gave said officers no little dissatisfaction, for they had 
imagined good sized trunks following them in the baggage 
wagons just as they had heard of in histories of other cam- 
paigns, but they had to obey and all extras were carefully 
packed away in boxes and manv a load was sent for storage 
and safe-keeping to the barn of one Schumaker until called 
for. As a safe deposit, said Schumaker was not altogether 
a success, since six months later not a vestige of his consign- 
ments could be found. In this way several thousand dollars 
worth of belongings was lost to the Regiment. 

Early on the morning of the 25th, a start was made for the 
city, expecting to take transports for Fortress Monroe, but on 
reaching the headquarters of General Couch, a halt was called 
for two hours, waiting for the 2d Rhode Island. Once more 
under way we got no further than Columbia College, the old 
drill ground, where another wait was had till six o'clock when 
orders came to return to Brightwood. On reaching that place 
some of the barracks had been torn down or burned, but by 
dint of space-economy all managed to squeeze in and pass 



64 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

the night. It seemed that the brigade was too soon for the 
transports. These days were not the best for entertaining 
visitors, but the latter had to take things as they found them. 
Among the friends from the home land were J. C. Bridgman 
of Springfield and his brother, S. C, of Northampton, also 
Charles O. Chapin and General Jas. S. Whitney, formerly 
Supt. of the U. S. Armory, Springfield, with J. C. Parsons of 
Holyoke, C. B. Bowers of Hartford, and Messrs. Edward and 
Wells Southworth of West Springfield. The 26th brought 
what had been attempted several times, viz, the actual sepa- 
ration from Bright wood, so long the pleasant camping place 
of the Regiment. Many a moralizing sentiment was expressed, 
especially a few weeks afterwards when the contrast between 
actual campaigning and Bright wood was made. Says one 
careful chronicler, "There were several houses near, where 
we used to make friendly calls. We were welcomed at the 
homes of Frank P. Blair, Sr., and his son, Montgomery P., the 
Postmaster General. We have been in camp here about seven 
months and they have been pleasant ones. We expect the 
next seven months will show a different state of things. More 
than 200,000 men have been lying idle here all winter, but 
there is now a prospect of work ahead, and though not over 
anxious for a fight, I do want to see the war ended." 

Fully a thousand men filled with hope and enthusiasm 
marched away from the long-time camp with cheers, and 
joining the brigade, passed down that great historic way. 
Seventh street, up which some of these very men, three years 
later, July 12, '64, then in the ranks of the 37th Mass., marched 
to that same Fort Massachusetts, then Fort Stevens, to help 
hold it against the assaults of General Jubal Early and his 
men. This they did before the very face of the President 
himself accompanied by several of his Cabinet officers. Never 
was victory won under more distinguished observation. But 
now transports were awaiting the Tenth at the foot of Sixth 
street. The brigade embarked in order, the Seventh going on 
board the Daniel Webster, and what a coincidence it was that 
the most of these men were from Plymouth County, from all 



Mar. 27, '62 



Alexandria 



65 



about the peaceful cemetery in Marshfield where the body 
of the great statesman was lying. Next went on board the 
36th New York, then the Second Rhode Island, and last of all 
the Tenth, Companies G, E and C going aboard the Sea-Shore, 
H and F on the Donelson, K, D, B, A and I on the Arid. The 




Embrasure in North Works. Westward, Parapet at Right. 

Interior, looking West. Northward, Parapet, Right. 

FORT STEVENS IN 1S99. 

sutler's wagons, etc., were loaded on the Mystic, a whole day 
being devoted to the embarkation. Everything was ready 
for the morrow's start. 

Thursday, the 27th, came at last and while the men break- 
fasted from haversacks on board, the officers found their 
morning meal ashore and at nine o'clock the steamers were 
under way. The Ariel stopped at Alexandria and took in tow 
two schooners, loaded with cavalry men and horses. Eight 
months before, almost to a day, the Regiment was steaming 



66 The Tenth Massachi^setts Tnfantry 

up the river, and while it had seen no fighting, it was a much 
better organized and equipped body now than it was then, 
soon to prove itself a magnificent fighting machine. Again 
was Mount Vernon passed and Fort Washington, nearly 
opposite ; at Aquia Creek appeared indications of recent occu- 
pation in that the Rebels had just departed, leaving smoking 
ruins of wharfs and store-houses, lest they might fall into 
Union hands. What a bustling place this same Aquia Creek 
was to become in the near future, and what a field of waste 
would extend all the way to Fredericksburg! The 28th re- 
vealed Fortress Monroe, said to be the strongest fortification 
in the United States, and Yankee boys admired its immense 
proportions and gazed over the waters, where only twenty 
days before the appearance of a strange craft and its subse- 
quent deeds had unsettled for all time the whole science of sea 
fighting, as well as saved the entire Atlantic coast from the 
ravages of the iron-clad Mcrrimac. And there, too, was the 
Monitor itself, that wonder of the world; for the nonce, the 
preserver of America. Never was an equal quantitv of iron in 
the shape of a ship more wonderingly admired. On her turret 
might be plainly seen the dents of the ordnance of the Merri- 
mac, and the boys blessed the day which sent Ericsson to the 
"Land of the Free." The scene was a lively one; there was 
the Rip-raps, whence its big Sawyer gun sent iron compliments 
to the enemy on Sewell's Point, just north of Norfolk, where 
nearly fifty years later, 1907, both North and South united 
in placing an Exposition, commemorative of the landing at 
Jamestown. The whole harbor was alive with steam and 
sailing craft of every description. 

Saturday, the 29th, the Arid landed her burden of humanity 
at about 6.00 a. m. in Hampton, where arms were stacked to 
await the coming of the other companies. It was the same 
Hampton where, in the coming years, so manv age-worn 
veterans were to spend their last days in the National Soldiers' 
Home to be established there by a grateful Government. On 
this day, however, only a scene of desolation greeted the eye, 
since the enemv had burned it rather than that it should fall 



Mar. 29, \i2 Hampton, Va. 67 

into the hands of the Union army. General Magruder was 
the offending Confederate, and a sad picture he left for those 
to come after him. Amid the ruins, streets were hardly dis- 
tinguishable; even the ancient Episcopal church, one of the 
oldest in America, was not spared, but went down with the 
rest. Only a few negro huts escaped the general destruction. 
The inhabitants were said to have fled to Norfolk. The Regi- 
ment, having landed at about 1.00 p. m., proceeded to New- 
port News and went into camp, later called "Camp Smith." 
Nearby was a house occupied by an old fellow who proclaimed 
himself a neutral, thus receiving such a creature's deserts, viz, 
the detestation of both sides. He had a flag of truce flying in 
front of his house and a couple of red-headed girls hanging over 
the fence; in spite of himself, the hues of his flag, his daughters' 
hair and the blue of his own face made up the Union colors. 
Here the Regiment was visited by the Allotment Commission 
from Massachusetts whose errand was to have soldiers who 
cared to do so, allot such portions of their pay as they chose 
to their families or other persons. In this way the paymaster 
would send the allotted part directly to its destination, thus 
relieving the soldier of further anxiety. It was a beneficent 
scheme and worked admirably throughout the war. If the 
soldier had no family and still was of a saving nature, he might 
allot it to the State Treasury of Massachusetts, where it would 
draw six per cent interest and would be ready for him when 
he returned. The plan was exceedingly popular in the Tenth. 
The next day (30th) the wagon train came up and rubber 
blankets were furnished, thus enabling men to better with- 
stand the rain; hard-tack and coffee were somewhat scarce 
though we were near sources of supply. The camp was four 
miles from Hampton on the Yorktown road, the latter place 
being the probable destination of the expedition. A line of 
fortifications extended from Yorktown on the York river, 
across the peninsula to the James. More than 15,000 Rebels 
were said to be guarding this line and more of the enemy were 
on their way from Richmond. The month of March ended 
with the shelling of Wm. F. Smith's Division (2d), just in 



68 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

advance of Kcyes's, by the Rebel gunl^oat, Teaser, doing no 
special damage, however, while Serg. Amos Pettis, Company I, 
returned from recruiting service with twenty-one new men. 

The earlier days of April were reserved for rest and prepara- 
tion, and on the 4th the march towards Yorktown began. 
It was 7.00 a. m., a most beautiful morning, with peach trees 
in every direction in full bloom. Truly the prospect pleased 
whether the beholders were vile or not. It was not a hurried 
march at first; halting at intervals, passing Newport News 
at ten o'clock, and turning to the right we followed up the 
James river along a road running parallel to it and about 
forty rods from the bank. The country was low and level 
though a ridge rose to the height of fifteen or twenty feet along 
the bank of the river. Here had been the camp of W. F. Smith's 
division, now ahead of us. About noon General Smith sent 
back word that he was in sight of one of the enemy's batteries 
and asked permission to attack. On getting the assent of 
General Keyes he fired a single shell, which was enough to 
precipitate the flight of the Rebels. Two brigades of the First 
Division were sent forward to support Smith but they were 
not needed; our halting place was on the picket ground of 
the Confederates the night before, stopping here two or three 
hours. The woods, close by, abounded in hogs and pigs, and 
the soldiers were not slow in noting the fact, going after them 
with a rush, and soon returning with liberal pieces of fresh 
pork whose toothsome qualities they were quickly realizing 
over freshly built fires. Resuming the march it was con- 
tinued till after dark when, turning into the pine woods, arms 
were stacked and behind them, lying on the ground, the 
Regiment was soon fast asleep. 

Reveille sounded early the 5th, for the line of march was 
resumed at sunrise, though progress was slow on account of 
numerous holes in the ground and the trees which the enemy 
had felled across the road to impede the way. At nine o'clock 
we reached the works taken by Smith's men the day before, 
and here we were deluged by a torrent of rain which rendered 
the already heavy road almost impassable, yet the army 



April 5, '62 Up the Peninsula 69 

struggled on. The works were formidable and, well defended, 
should have given us a deal of trouble. Marching across a 
long plain we reached a large mill-pond at the right, the road 
going down into a ravine, and hard by were palisades and other 
fortifications of a formidable character, together with bar- 
racks enough to house four or five thousand soldiers, but the 
occupants had departed. Here the Tenth and the 36th New 
York made a wide detour to the left, taking a straight line 
through the woods and ploughed fields. By this time the 
sun was shining its hottest and the men, weighed down by 
knapsacks and wet clothes, began to wilt under the effects of 
the rapid march. Many fell out, completely exhausted, though 
the Regiment still pressed forward, while the way was strewn 
with blankets, shoes, overcoats and all sorts of things rejected 
from the overloaded knapsacks. 

Reaching a piece of woods at noon, there came a halt of an 
hour, during which the most of the stragglers came up. Then, 
at the sound of the bugle, we fell in and marched through the 
woods and into an open field. Here we saw the Second Rhode 
Island disappearing into some woods at the right, with guns 
on shoulder and at double quick. On we came, finding at our 
left one of our batteries in position. We took a turn to the 
left and, "On right by file into line," came straight across 
the field, the 36th, in line of battle, extending the line to the 
left. Then came "Load at will;" next up the road we had 
left in the morning came the Seventh Mass., and formed in 
our rear. A hundred rods in front of us was a piece of woods; 
directly in our front was a road and, on each side of the road 
a Virginia rail fence. The fence was torn down, and passing 
through we formed in line in the next field near the woods, 
where the enemy was supposed to be. Presently the right 
company (H), and the left (G), were thrown out as skirmishers 
across our front and passed on to the edge of the woods, but 
not a Rebel could be seen. All this time the Union batteries 
were pounding away on our right, but entirely out of our sight. 

The skirmishers were called in, column formed, and the 
march resumed up the road, past Warwick County Court 



70 The Tenth MAs.sArHirsj;TTs Infantry 

House, only a barn-like structure built of Ijrick. In the village 
were, besides a tavern, store and jail, one or two dwellings, 
verv much like the most of Virginian villages. Down a little 
hill we went, through a creek up to our knees, thence half a 
mile of muddy road, and into a piece of woods. Nearer and 
nearer sounded the cannon, and every minute we expected 
to arrive in sight of the fort when, "Right about, march" 
was the order and back we went. We "hied right" into an 
open field, and here was another of our batteries; we stacked 
arms, threw ourselves on the ground and awaited the next 
order. Remaining here till after sundown, we marched back 
past the Court House, and closed up in column by division in 
an open common of hard clay, with the water standing in 
puddles all over it. Here we stacked arms and, "in place, 
rest," waited, expecting an order to move at any moment. 
It was after nine o'clock, when the men were all asleep, the 
bugle sounded and up we rose, tired and hungry, and off we 
started, taking a bee-line for the woods we had faced when 
we first formed line in the afternoon. The whole Regiment 
was detailed for picket duty and the line was a mile long. 

The 6th was Sunday and we were in the enemy's countrv; 
Companies B, D, E, G, H and K were detailed for dutv on the 
roads. Early in the morning a reconnoitering party was 
called for from our brigade and Company I of the Tenth and 
one from the o6th New York were detailed and ordered to 
report to Lieutenant Merrill of McClellan's stafY. Both com- 
panies were thrown out as skirmishers, only one platoon 
being held as reserve. They skirmished along the enemy's 
front about a mile and a half when cjuite a bodv of troops was 
encountered, proving to be the Seventh Maine and the Fifth 
Wisconsin of General Hancock's brigade, Smith's Division, 
out on the same mission, and the two companies were at once 
attached to his battalion. The Rebel fortification could be seen 
plainly, with the stars and bars waving, and the Rebel shouts 
could be heard as they caught sight of our party, upon which 
they commenced and kept up a scattering fire. Several of 
the skirmishers were injured, one having an arm shot off and 



April 7, '()2 Warwick Court House 71 

another an ugly cut in the thigh. As the last mentioned, a 
lad of eighteen, came in. General Hancock examined his 
wound and, patting him on the head, remarked, "My boy, 
you have a mark of honor for life." Four straggling Alabama 
soldiers were picked up. They were not uniformed, but were 
armed with old flint-lock muskets, altered to percussion of the 
model of 1823, originally made at the Valley Forge Arsenal. 
Their equipments were decidedly old fashioned, their canteens 
were made of wood, the cartridge and cap boxes clumsy and 
ill-shaped. They wei-e intelligent men, however, and would 
give but little information. 

After the General and Lieutenant were satisfied with their 
reconnoissance, it being near sundown, the troops started for 
" eaihp, going two and a half miles through a great swamp, 
with water, in some places, two feet deep. Late in the evening 
the party arrived at the headquarters of Smith's division and 
bivouacked for the night. Some of the men, building fires 
to dry their clothing, attracted the attention of the enemy, 
thus drawing fire from his batteries. This, however, did not 
last long, and the men secured the rest so much needed, and 
early in the morning of the 7th returned to their regiments. 
So here the Regiment was at Warwick Court House and with 
the rest of the army was put on short rations, the bad condi- 
tion of the roads delaying the supply trains. They had to come 
from Newport News or Shipping Point, twenty miles awav, 
and the recent rains had put the roads in a terrible plight. 
Here it was that the soldiers entered upon the subsequently 
well learned trade of building corduroy roads, long stretches 
of which had to be made before the wagons could come up. 
Fortunately there were many cattle and hogs running wild 
between the lines of the two armies and their capture not only 
furnished fun for the men but helped to eke out the shortened 
rations, though northern soldiers were not accustomed to the 
wild garlic flavor with which their fresh meat reeked, from 
the abundance of that weed in the vicinitv. 

The Warwick river, flowing due south, had Rebel pickets 
on its west banks, while Union soldiers performed similar 



72 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

duty on the east, and to the Fourth Corps was assigned the 
task of guarding the river from the Court House to the James. 
As the river was not a wide one, the opposing pickets were 
within easy rifle range and there was considerable firing on 
both sides, though few men were hit. At night, when the 
darkness shut each other from view, the rival guardsmen 
would draw near the water and indulge in badinage or back 
talk, which, while it hurt neither party, really afforded more 
satisfaction than the burning of gunpowder during the day. 
All through the war this exchange of compliments was a 
favorite amusement of the American cousins, for the time 
being, at political odds. Says Johnny, "What all you 'uns 
come down yer foh? You 'uns can't beat we 'uns." Some 
Yankee would shout back, "Who be we 'uns?" at which his 
fellows would laugh heartily. With such introduction, there 
followed long and hot discussions as to the conditions under 
which these men of the same race and creed found themselves 
with anns in hand, ready to take each others' lives. By tacit 
consent, the barbarous practice of picket firing was gradu- 
ally abandoned. 

More rain on the 8th, and the men were getting lessons in 
the art of putting up their tents, for those who had not chosen 
good locations the night before or had not put up their 
shelters properly found themselves very uncomfortable so that 
in the morning there was a general rearrangement of quarters. 
The next day brought still more rain and a nearer approach to 
the hunger line, for the wagons did not come up and five pieces 
of hard bread were a day's ration. April 10th introduced the 
sun once more with clear and pleasant weather. The pay- 
master also came and rendered the dues for January and 
February and thereby left smiles on the sutler's face. For 
a few days there was little more than the regular round of 
camp life, with the variation of picket duty which, with pleas- 
ant weather, the men found rather enjoyable, and as the 
supply of provisions became normal, being in the enemy's 
country was not thought so very hard after all. There was 
the necessary building of corduroy roads, but Yankee hands 



April 16, '62 Up the Peninsula 73 

were not averse to building of any sort. On the 14th came a 
battaHon drill with inspection and a dress parade, and from 
headquarters came the orders that there should be no music 
of any kind, nor even noise, rather severe restraint for health- 
ful lungs, while from the camps of the enemy sounded strains 
of "Dixie" and "Maryland, my Maryland." 

Monotony ended on the 16th, for while some of the Regiment 
had been ordered out to work on the corduroy road, the order 
was soon countermanded and all returned to camp, only to 
fall into line with guns, equipments and a day's rations, and 
march three miles to the right, for there was firing up towards 
the front and the "prospects of fun" were fine. One observer 
writes, "We have lain in the woods all day supporting Mott's 
Battery and are detailed for picket tonight." Another says, 
"In line till nine o'clock at night, when we returned to camp 
for our knapsacks and baggage, marching, coming and going, 
nearly all night, stopping two and a half hours for rest." In 
their new position the men were gaining an insight of the 
extent and variety of Virginian insect life. Seemingly, noth- 
ing that could jump, sting or bite had been omitted, but the 
palm, for pure cussedness, was readily yielded to the wood- 
tick, a creature that burrowed his head into the person of his 
victim with evident intent to remain indefinitely, but his 
presence became known at once, while he swelled to fabulous 
size on the best blood of the soldier. Woe be to the individual 
if, in his pain, he pulled the tormentor out willy-nilly, for his 
head remained to produce a festering sore. The only way to 
rid one's self of the torment was to carefully twist him out, 
unscrew him, as it were, then kill him at your pleasure, and 
only the red spot of his former depredations reminded you 
of your sufferings. 

This same day the First Division began shelling the Rebel 
forts while the First Vermont, in attempting to cross the river 
had a taste of the enemy's fire. Day and night were badly 
mixed at this time for it was only 2.00 a. m. of the 17th when 
the short nap of the Tenth was broken that it might march 
four miles with repeated halts on the way. We stayed in 



74 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

new position till noon; there was slight skirmishing, but not 
enough to leave the place which we called "Camp Winfield 
Scott." On the 18th the Regiment furnished one hundred 
men for picket duty, and the 36th New York seventy-five, 
and all were stationed on outposts. There was a march of 
about four miles to establish posts and then came a detach- 
ment from the 1 1th Maine and 56th New York to relieve them 
and the whole marching had to be done over again. We were 
near enough to the enemy to see him busily trving to strengthen 
his works, also to see the relief of his guards and hear the 
bands play the southern airs. Five forts could be plainly seen. 
During the night there was an alarm from one of the .36th 
men who thought he saw the whole Rebel army approaching, 
so fired his gun, threw it over the fence and ran. The situa- 
tion was making novices nervous. 

In the morning of the 19th (Concord and Lexington Day 
in Massachusetts), the men on picket helped Captain Harvev 
of the 11th Maine in straightening the picket line and then 
fell back to the camp, glad enough of rest. Hardly had the 
slumbers of night begun when an alram on the picket line 
turned everybody out in the drenching rain and it was no 
gentle shower; thus under arms and dripping, the return of 
daylight was awaited. The entire Regiment was a reserve 
for the picket line. The morning of the 20th found the men 
soaked but watchful, and at six o'clock, readv to turn in, 
despite their wet garments. The forenoon was devoted to 
drying and sleeping. At nightfall, the camp was moved a 
little nearer the enemy and into the w^oods, an improvement 
on the previous location, the ground being higher and drver. 
At 1.00 a. m. of the following day came picket dutv again. 
A still further approach towards the enemy was ordered the 
22d, and a half mile nearer, right under his guns; a good place 
had hardly been selected before we were ordered back to the 
old camp at the Court House which we reached at 6.00 p. m. 
Those who complained of inactivity at Brightwood were con- 
spicuously quiet now. 

Here April ended with no serious undertaking, but nothing 



April 30, '62 Young's House 75 

approaching the inactivity of the former days at Brightwood. 
Northern newspapers were satisfied that McClellan was moving, 
though far from filling the ideal of a forward movement. In the 
light of subsequent knowledge many improvements might have 
been made, but very likely he was acting according to his best 
judgment. What better could any one do? On the 23d there 
was regimental inspection ; every day saw large details go 
out for work on the corduroys, and there was the regular 
round of picket duty. The latter alTorded more variety than 
the same near Washington, for the enemy was close at hand 
all the time and it w^as his special care to see that too much 
ease should not be the lot of the Yankees. Those whom 
duty sent to the vicinage of Young's house told tales of the 
beauty of its surroundings and the enjoyment they got out of 
its shelter and appointments. The owner, a wealthy Virginian, 
had gone into the Rebel service, so said, and his home was 
given over to the invader. The building was no great afifair, 
a rambling three-story dwelling, but the estate was one of 
great beauty, overlooking the James and the adjacent country, 
having large orchards of a great variety of fruit and extensive 
pleasure grounds, tastefully laid out and embellished. Com- 
pared with the dingy surroundings of the Court House every- 
thing here was palatial. The war must have completely 
ruined the entire plant, though Union men did not begin its 
destruction, since the Rebels had used the place as head- 
quarters, thus giving it a start downwards. Eels, caught in 
the nearby river were cooked in the capacious fireplaces of 
the mansion, the doors and casings providing the best of fuel. 
Once the Rebel gunboat, Teaser, came down and ranged her- 
self for a bombardment, apparently, but on second thought, 
seemed to give up the scheme and steamed slowly down the 
river. On an alarm the 2Sth, line was formed, but after a 
brief time it was dismissed, though equipments were kept on 
all night. That night the Teaser did throw some shells at the 
Young house, but no damage was done. The last day of the 
month had a record of muster for pay and orders to be ready 
to move on a moment's notice. 



76 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

During much of this time, the siege of Yorktown was sup- 
posed to be in progress, as the sound of heavy guns on the 
right gave testimony; the work of the Fourth Corps was 
entirely supplementary. In later years we learned that 
Magruder, the Confederate commander, was quite as anxious 
to get away as McClellan was to have him go; it seems very 
strange that their common wishes were not sooner gratified. 
It had rained twenty out of the thirty days the armies had 
faced each other; the climate, always trying to northern men, 
became positively pestilential at last and more men were in- 
capacitated for service by disease than by gunpowder. Yet 
when the end came, and Magruder changed his base to Wil- 
liamsburg he was able to write, "Thus, with 5,000 men, 
exclusive of the garrison, we stopped and held in check more 
than 100,000 men of the enemy." All of this time the soldiers 
were ready to throw up their hats at sight of McClellan, by^ 
far the most popular leader who ever held command of the 
Potomac army. 

The month of May saw Colonel Briggs back with his Regi- 
ment, Gen. Charles Devens of Worcester and the 15th Regiment 
having been promoted, April 15th, and soon after assigned to 
the command of the Third Brigade. Strong fortifications were 
erected, heavy siege guns were in place and firing missiles at 
Yorktown, thus working over the same ground which had 
been the scene of the closing hours of the War of the Revo- 
lution and, while the Union forces were digging, building 
corduroy roads, and standing guard, the Confederates, having 
accomplished their purpose of establishing more tenable de- 
fenses further west, were preparing to steal away. On the 
3d of May, Company I was at the Young house and farm; the 
Rebel Teaser was lying calmly in the James, while the enemy 
could be plainly seen on the opposite side of the river. With 
the 4th day came needed Quartermaster's stores, as foot and 
body wear. Commanders of companies were busy giving out 
these supplies when, at 4.00 p. m., the army was ordered to 
advance, the report being that Yorktown had been abandoned. 
It was true. The month's delay had been gained and, taking 



May 5, '62 Williamsburg 77 

his own time, setting and keeping his own pace, Magnider 
withdrew towards WilHamsburg. 

Our forces passed through the works, finding them strong and 
well supplied with heavy ordnance, some of the guns spiked, 
many overturned with their carriages burned, and while the 
work of demolition had been well done, seventy or eighty 
siege guns, with a large quantity of ammunition and other 
suppUes were left. It is claimed that the enemy had buried 
torpedoes near their magazines and the ways Hkely to be 
trodden by their pursuers, and that a caisson driven over one, 
exploded it, thereby kilhng two men. Apprehensive of such 
conditions. Rebel prisoners were compelled to remove the 
contents of the magazines and storehouses so that they might 
receive any injury incident thereto. Our pursuit ended at 
Leibanon church after marching about six miles, camping as 
usual in the rain. A large house near, evidently having been 
used by a surgeon, displayed a quantity of children's and 
women's apparel, the same being scattered over the entire 
house. The Rebels were here yesterday, we, today. Compa- 
nies F and G went on picket, the remainder of the Regiment 
camping in a corn field. 

WILLIAMSBURG 

May 5th, 1862, is associated in history with the battle of 
WilHamsburg, where Hooker acquired his reputation as a 
fighter and Hancock won recognition of his military genius. 
The Tenth, though present, was too late to use the charges 
with which their guns were loaded, but their disposition was 
good and they obeyed orders with alacrity, anxious to have a 
part in the conflict to the sound of whose thunders they had 
been marching for toilsome hours. The Regiment left Lebanon 
church at 7.00 a. m., accompanied by a cold, drizzling rain, 
the same continuing all day. By noon, the booming of artil- 
lery became very apparent, and as best we could, we hurried 
through the deep mud in the rain, some of the time in 
torrents. Confusion was everywhere, for all branches of the 
service were doing their best to "get there." Sometimes the 



78 Thk Tenth MAssArnrsETTs Infantry 

companies would be separated by a passing train of artillery, 
and then what a double-quick was necessary to catch up! 
It was five o'clock in the afternoon when the battle field was 
reached, two miles from Williamsburg, and the Tenth was 
ordered into line at once to support Hooker who was engaged 
in our immediate front. The latter, in his anxietv to strike 
the first blow, had secured the privilege of moving his men on 
the Hampton or Warwick road, bringing him close up to the 
enemy on the evening of the 4th. With the details of the battle 
proper, it is not ours to deal, but history tells of the valiant 
deeds of the day and how men fought in the mud, showing 
themselves of the earth earthly in a double sense. For nine 
hours Hooker had battled against constantly increasing odds, 
regiment after regiment of the enemy turning back and re- 
turning to assail him; the Union forces, so near and vet so 
far, were not coming to his rehef as he had expected; his amLj 
munition was nearly exhausted. Smith's division of the Fourth 
Corps was on the right. Hancock's brigade had gone well over 
to the extreme right, close to Queen's Creek and, taking cer- 
tain redoubts constructed there by Magruder, had steadilv ad- 
vanced in his flank movement. It was at this moment that the 
Tenth appeared on the field, ready for an introduction to war's 
dread realities. Moving forward to the support of the forces 
already engaged in the front, there came an orderlv praying 
for help for Hancock, the foe having discovered the importance 
of his position which he had held long and faithfullv. Bv the 
right flank the Tenth started at a trot to the relief of Hancock 
but others had reached him first, and with the bayonet charge 
so famous, had repulsed the Rebels, leaving the key of the 
position in the hands of the gallant Hancock, who that dav 
won from McClellan his life-long title, "The Superl)." 

But the Tenth was there for business and was at once placed 
in the front line where it stayed through the night. Close by, 
was one of the earthworks which formed a chain of defense 
across the peninsula and the taking of two of w^hich, some 
hours before, had given the Union forces their advantage. 
Here during the afternoon, the enemy had placed some two 



May 5, '62 Williamsburg 79 

hundred of their wounded whose groans and cries, during the 
night, mingled with those of the battle field, were piteous to 
hear. When night came, so close were the Hnes, fires were 
quite out of the question and the cold rain continued to fall. 
There was no shelter ; nothing for the weary soldier to do but 
lie on his arms and get what food his haversack might contain. 
Under such circumstances, how fortunate it was that said 
haversacks usually held more hard-tack than the owner would 
care to eat in one night. During the night the Rebels resumed 
their interrupted march towards Richmond. Neither side had 
expected the battle of WilHamsburg, the enemy thinking to 
go much further before making a strenuous resistance, and so 
little did McClellan expect it, he had remained behind, looking 
after the embarking of Franklin's men, thinking that the 
most important matter of the hour; but the speed of Stone- 
man's calvary pursuit and the readiness of Stuart to meet 
him, coupled with the anxiety of Hooker to get into the fray 
and so strike a blow, upset the calculations of commanders 
on both sides. Still as grewsome witnesses of the fierceness 
of the battle neither side expected, there were 456 Union dead, 
1,400 wounded and several hundred missing, probably 
prisoners. The total Confederate loss was reported at about 
one thousand. 

During the forced march up to the front the color-bearer 
became exhausted and the standard passed into the keeping 
of Sergt. James Knox of Company I, who continued to carry 
it until he won his deserved promotion. As the men from the 
Tenth were on their way to support Hancock they passed 
General Keyes, Commander of the Corps, who exclaimed, 
"Boys, it all depends upon you, and you know Massachusetts 
never retreats." He was himself a native of the Bay State, 
and spoke from knowledge. The dawn of the 6th, revealing 
the withdrawal of the enemy, cooking-fires were possible, and 
the soldier's chief consolation in the food line soon appeared 
in the shape of a cup of hot coffee. Daylight also revealed the 
terrible suffering resulting from the battle of the previous day. 
Dead bodies strewed the ground ; the wounded were worse off 



80 The Tenth Massachusetts Ixfantry 

than the dead for the latter were beyond pain. Rails had 
been brought in by the Rebels and fires built for the comfort 
of the wounded; in one case the maimed leg of a Rebel had 
been placed upon a rail, one end of which was in the fire. The 
flames, creeping slowly down the edge of the rail, had reached 
the leg and, while the poor victim was suft'ering untold torture, 
he was helpless to aid himself. The coming of his enemies 
was a relief to him. Men of all grades were active in their 
efforts to assist the foe as well as the friend. Luckily the 
weather had cleared during the night, so that rain was not a 
hinderance in their work of mercy. Says one of the men in 
his diary, "The surgeons are all busy taking care of the 
wounded today. Dr. Chamberlain is busv cutting oft" limbs. 
He looks more like a butcher than anything else; he is all 
covered with blood, but he is a verv cai^eful surgeon." 

"Why was not the enemy immediately pursued?" is a ques- 
tion almost any reader would ask. Two reasons combined 
to prevent; in the first place the wagons were not up with 
rations; and the condition of the roads was so bad that the 
army would have had difticulty in advancing, though the 
Confederates were falling back all of the time. Very early 
in the morning the Tenth marched to Fort Magruder near 
w^hich a camp was established. Apparently a large share of 
the dead and wounded Rebels belonged to the 5th North 
Carolina and the 24th Virginia; the prisoners, of whom thei'e 
were many, being kept in the log barracks in recent use by 
the Confederate garrison. All of the houses and barns in the 
vicinity were filled with the wounded of both armies. Intel- 
lectually, the natives of "Ole Virginny" excelled their com- 
rades from the North state ; they were also better dressed, 
the uniforms of the Tar Heels being conspicuous for their 
non-uniformity. In later times, the writers of North Carolina 
have quite generally claimed that, in the distribution of arms 
and equipments for the army, the State was, as a riile, discrimi- 
nated against, to the general benefit of Virginia. To atone 
for the recent lack of music the bands were tuning up in the 
liveliest manner. Hard-tack was again plentiful, but no 



May 7, '62 Williamsburg 81 

baggage. It was pleasant to see the Union gunboats, Galena, 
Monitor and Naugatuck steaming up the James, while the 
Rebel craft. Teaser, Yorktown and Jamestown were keeping a 
safe distance ahead of them. Every hour brought in more 
dead and wounded with which the woods were literally filled, 
especially where Hooker and Kearney encountered the enemy. 
The 7th and 8th were spent in camp or in visiting the village 
of Williamsburg. It w^as not a large place, chiefly interesting 
from the College of William and Mary, the second oldest in 
the nation, and bearing in its name a reminder of its English 
patrons. Here were educated some of the most distinguished 
of Southern youth, among them Washington and Jefferson. 
Now the edifice was used as a hospital, mostly for Rebels who 
were carried there during the fight, the ladies of the place 
coring for them most tenderly. May 9th camp was broken, 
and after a roundabout raarch of ten miles, the Regiment 
found itself only three miles from its starting point. James 
City is the name of the stopping place, called "city" prob- 
ably by the rule of contraries, since there were, aside from 
negro huts, only three houses and three barns in the place, 
and the inhabitants, negroes altogether. The march of the 
10th brought the Regiment to Barhamsville where it camped 
on the edge of a beautiful grove, the Seventh Massachusetts 
on the right, the 55th New York in the rear, being about 
twenty miles from Williamsburg. Through some carelessness 
or worse, the baggage wagons did not come up, thus causing 
the officers a deal of trouble through the lack of change of 
clothing. The following two days were spent here, opportun- 
ity being found for dress parade which excited the curiosity 
of the natives who came from a distance to see the sight, 
some of them declaring that they had never seen a Union 
flag before. 

It was from here that Asa Merrill (H) wrote his last letter 
to his grandmother, filled with love of home and friends and 
descriptive of his impressions on his way up the Peninsula. 
To what has already been given might be added these thoughts 
of his: 



82 The Texth Massachusetts Infantry 

Somewhere, about one mile from Barren Plain, Va. 
Dear Grandmother: You will see by this we are in the Wilder- 
ness of Virginia. (After describing the fight at Williamsburg, 
he continues.) The next day I was detailed as one of two 
out of our Company to help bury the Rebel dead. We did 
not have an}^ tools to work with at first, so I went all over 
the woods, where the fight was. I saw an old Revolutionary 
work behind which the Rebels lay. I counted nearly twenty 
Rebels in one pile and half as many of our men. In all I saw 
more than two hundred dead Rebels, the most of whom were 
shot in the head and breast, dying apparently without pain. 
W^here two or three fell near together, we dug one hole and 
put them into it, to the depth of about eighteen inches. I have 
seen over 600 prisoners. I would not have believed that such 
a set of men could be found in the United States. They were 
not in any kind of uniform and had been made to believe that 
we would hang all the prisoners and kill the wounded. We 
moved on to Richmond, day before yesterday, having a 
tremendous march. That afternoon more than 300 men fell 
out. Yesterday we marched six or eight miles, halting at 
noon to allow the wagons to come up. I am on guard at the 
house of a Union man, protecting his property. He says 
that Rebel officers have ridden all round to see who would 
go or who had gone to the war; at such times all the men 
would run into the woods. It is hard to make the people 
believe that Confederate money which lately was worth 90 
per cent its face value is today worth nothing. They were 
paying $2.00 a pound for salt; for sugar $0.60 to $1.00^, while 
coffee brought $1.25. It would seem that our blockade is 
not so much like paper, after all. We have very little time 
for writing letters, because the Rebels run so and we have to 
follow. We are about 45 miles from Richmond. * * 
* If I live, I will write to you at home from Richmond 

next Saturday or Sundav. 

Merrill got no nearer Richmond than Fair Oaks, so the letter 
from the Confederate Capital was not written, but somewhere 
in the universe, his disenthralled spirit has doubtless com- 
muned with that of his grandmother, long ere this. 

At seven o'clock in the morning of the 13th, camp was 
broken and the long line moved slowly forward, constantly 
impeded by the w^agon trains which all knew to be essential 
to their welfare, but so great was their hinderance that when at 



May 14, '62 New Kent Court House 83 

night a halt was made at New Kent Court House, the Regi- 
ment had marched only ten miles from the starting point. 
On the 14th and 15th the Regiment did picket duty in the 
midst of a drenching rain. Much vexation arose from the 
constant alarms given by the mounted picket from the Eighth 
Pa. who kept running in, stating that the enemy was advancing, 
thus keeping us in line the most of the time. Morning hght 
revealed the interesting fact that one company of the Pennsyl- 
vanians had been scared by another company of the same 
regiment. Very few able-bodied men were seen among the 
natives, they were in the Rebel army; some of the wounded 
and sick had returned to their homes, but they were not given 
to answering questions. Many of the houses had little white 
flags hanging from the windows or stuck up in the door yards. 
The boys called them "Flags of mercy," and the property so 
marked was generally respected. Sometimes we were cheated 
as at James City, where we saved the fences of a poor lone 
widoiv only to learn the next morning that her husband was 
in the Rebel army and that she was "Secesh" through and 
through. 

The Tenth withdrew from the picket line about 9.00 a. m. 
of the 16th, undertaking to guard the Chickahominy Creek 
road and to rest at the same time; the remainder of the 
Division passed on towards Richmond. At 4.00 p. m. we also 
started forward to Baltimore Cross Roads, about four miles 
nearer Richmond, passing large strawberry fields on the way. 
The enemy managed to keep about just so far ahead of us, 
so that we did not clash, though there was an occasional 
cavalry skirmish. Two miles further, on the 18th, brought 
us to Crumps Cross Roads, decidedly the dirtiest camping 
place yet. Ex-Secretary of the Treasury in Buchanan's 
Cabinet, Howell Cobb, with his Georgia Legion, had occupied 
the camp only a day or two before and, while the sword of 
an officer was found and exploited as a trophy, many of the 
boys found live things of a creepy nature which occasioned 
no little discomfort. 



84 The Tenth Massachi'setts Infantry 

The ISth was Sunday and literally a day of rest to the tired 
men who had a whole day in camp with nothing to do but 
clean up guns and equipments. There was a dress parade at 
nightfall and prayer by the Chaplain of the First U.S. Chas- 
seurs (65th N. Y., 1st Brig), that officer of the Tenth having 
resigned May 1st, just as the Regiment was taking the field. 
In this connection, it is recalled that a memljer of Company A 
somewhat inclined to levity, with hat in hand called on the 
Colonel one day and solemnly asked if the Regiment could 
not draw funds from the Government for Company use, to the 
value of the Chaplain's prayers they were no longer receiv- 
ing? History is not enriched with the officer's reply. The 
road to Richmond was growing shorter, for three miles were 
whittled off on the 19th, as the march lead to the line of rail- 
road from West Point to the Capital, the camp being close up 
to the enemy's picket, whose proximity did not prevent 
inspection and a light battalion drill on the following after- 
noon. As the foe was regularly falling back, it was possible 
to advance still two more miles on the 21st. At the close of 
dav. Captain Smart with Company B and Captain Newell with 
Company I were detailed for outpost duty, relieving Captain 
Bliss of the Seventh Massachusetts. Darkness was falling 
when the men undertook to cross the railroad bridge over 
the Chickahominy. Forty feet of the same, or that part 
spanning the channel had been burned, hence the crossing 
was effected on planks laid upon the trestle, though a knee- 
deep wade in the river was necessary to reach the place whence 
the enemv was watched during the night. 

With the 22d came a straightening of the picket line and 
an advance of half a mile, with headquarters at the deserted 
Prvor house. The cavalry picket of the enemy w^as near 
enough to draw our fire at times and in some of the houses 
the dwellers were found to be entirely colored, the previous 
residents having left hurriedly for Richmond. Though guards 
were placed over the property, it was noticed that said guards 
had appropriated many an item of household use, under the 
pretext of saving it. One farm house had a large representa- 



May 23, '62 Seven Pines 85 

tion of women and live stock, but mankind was wanting. 
A miller, at that time exempt from service on account of his 
occupation, was put under guard lest he communicate with 
the Rebels. At his house was found a document from the 
Confederate headquarters directed to the "first Union officer 
who arrives." Within the paper, was found a letter directed 
to Adj. General Williams of the U.S. Army, the same relating 
to flags of truce. During the night there was occasional 
exchange of shot with the foe who was on the railroad just out 
of rifle range. 

Bottom's Bridge was crossed on the 23d, the picket com- 
panies having been called in about four o'clock; meanwhile 
the 50th New York Engineers, aided by the Pioneers, among 
whom were certain men of the Tenth, were working busily 
in repairing the railroad bridge across the river. Only twelve 
miles from Richmond was the record for the 24th, with the 
Tenth at 9.00 a. m. supporting Naglee's Brigade of Casey's 
Division, (3d) on a reconnoissance. There was considerable 
cannonading at the front, the Seventh New York Battery 
engaging one of the enemy's, but ours being served the better 
the Rebels withdrew. At 2.00 p. m. Casey's full Division 
came up so the Tenth retired, thoroughly soaked by the rain 
which was as usual in evidence. "Still nearing Richmond," 
for on the 25th, at 9.00 a. m. we reached Seven Pines, said to 
be seven and a half miles away, while the enemy, strongly 
fortified, was reported three miles off. Extra baggage and 
the wagon train were sent back across the river. Though the 
26th brought on no overt act, everyone was on the alert. 
The next day, notwithstanding falling rain, the whole Divi- 
sion worked hard at throwing up rifle pits and felling trees 
for abatis, while heavy firing was heard in the direction of 
Porter's Division, that having the extreme right of the line. 

At three o'clock in the morning of the 28th all of the am- 
bulances were ordered to the right, an indication of fighting 
in that direction. At 11.00 a. m. our Regiment with the First 
U. S. Chasseurs (65th N. Y.) started on a reconnoissance of 
the enemy's position, passing through the outer line of Union 



86 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

pickets. The latter were from Casey's (3d) Division and their 
carelessness was largely the cause of the fierce attack three 
days later. Nearly every post had a fire whose smoke plainly 
indicated to the foe where his adversary was. We actually 
saw men sitting down with their backs towards Richmond, 
reading dime novels, while their guns were standing against 
the trees, the enemy's picket being not a hundred rods away. 
As soon as the reconnoissance was discovered, fire was opened 
upon it by a six pound battery, though no damage was done, 
the shells exploding harmlessly among the trees, and before 
better range could be obtained we withdrew, the object of 
the trip having been secured. How leisurely the excursion 
was made may be inferred from the fact that during the 
firing, George Conners of Company I was sitting behind a 
tree which was hit by one of the missiles, jarring it pretty 
thoroughly. "Be jabers," said the astonished Irishman, "I ^ 
was on the right side of the tree that time." On acquainting 
the engineer officers with the result of the observations, the 
Regiment returned to camp. 

The camp went forward yet another mile on the 29th, and 
supplies were brought directly from White House landing by 
rail, much to the delight of the hungry men. At the same 
time the whistling of locomotives could be heard as the Rebels 
brought their necessities from Richmond, both forces really 
using the same railroad, and just beyond Fair Oaks station 
the track was obstructed, thus preventing the enemy from 
running anything down to injure our trains. The 30th of May 
found the line close up to that of the enemy with guns stacked, 
to be seized at a moment's warning. Just to make things 
seem natural, rain began to fall at 5.00 p. m. and continued 
with thunder and lightning till after midnight. Of this storm 
it has been said that the rain came down in tropical torrents 
and the lightning played, not in flashes, but in sheets of 
flame, at times seeming to involve the entire bivouac in its 
lurid glare. One of the Excelsior Brigade officers described 
the electric fire as running again and again along the lines 
of stacked muskets, tipping the points of the bayonets with 



May 31, '62 Fair Oaks 87 

flashes like jets of gas. The 31st and last day of the month, 
so fateful in the story of the Tenth, began as did many others 
with a detail of the Regiment for fatigue work on the roads 
which were in a frightful condition on account of the rains. 
Three companies. A, K and E, were doing picket duty on the 
extreme left, in which condition noon arrived and, soon after, 
the beginning of the 

FAIR OAKS OR SEVEN PINES 

Union and Confederate writers have long called the same 
engagement by different names. Thus our First Bull Run 
is their Manassas; the Second Bull Run is Groveton in their 
annals, while sanguinary Antietam becomes the terrible battle 
of Sharpsburg when named by southern people. Fair Oaks 
was and is a station on the Richmond and York River R. R., 
near which Couch's Division was formed, while of the other 
name. Gen. G. W. Smith of the Confederates says, "Where 
the Williamsburg ' Old Stage ' road is intersected by the Nine 
Mile road, at a point seven miles east of Richmond, was fought 
the first great contest between the Confederate Army of 
Northern Virginia and the Federal Army of the Potomac. 
The junction of these two roads is called Seven Pines." To 
and beyond this point, about one mile southeast of Fair Oaks, 
Couch's line extended while Casey's was further towards the 
front and left. An old time war sketch shows seven large pine 
trees standing in front of an old country tavern, hence the 
appellation. Of the magnitude and importance of the battle 
General E. D. Keyes in his "Memoirs" remarks, "The battle 
of Fair Oaks was one of the most sanguinary of the war, and 
considering the isolation of the combatants due to an unex- 
pected rise of the Chickahominy , the Union cause was in greater 
danger on the 31st of May, 1862, than at any other battle 
except Gettysburg." He also says that in all the numerous 
histories of the battle he has failed to find a "tolerably fair 
account" of the same. But the General wrote before 1884, 
since which time much has been written concerning this and 
all other encounters of the war, including the voluminous 



88 The Tenth Massachisetts Infantry 

Government publication of reports and documents number- 
ing more than a hundred volumes. The story of Fair Oaks 
alone, as told in Vol. XI, Part I, Series I, fills 247 closely 
printed pages. It at once becomes evident that a brief 
epitome of the battle with a presentation of the part borne by 
the Tenth, on that last day of May, is the best that this history 
can offer. 

The advance of the Union forces up the Peninsula had met 
no settled resistance of the enemy save at Williamsburg, and 
in no instance had there been any determined aggressive act 
on his part. Apparently the retreat had reached the point 
and condition where General Joe Johnston, the Confederate 
commander, saw his opportunity and he was quick to seize it. 
The Third Corps, under Heintzelman, and the Fourth under 
Keyes were on the south side of the Chickahominy, the Fourth 
(two divisions)* holding the right of the position as stated 
above. The semi-detached condition of these two corps 
appealed to the military eye of Johnston and it is claimed 
that the attack was ordered before the sudden rise of the river 
gave him his exceptional opportunity. A reconnoissance in 
force on the 29th and oOth had informed him of the position 
and strength of the Union forces. Keyes's Corps, several 
miles from that of Heintzelman, was practically isolated; the 
Chickahominy, swollen by the stxccession of cloud bursts, had 
become a wide and rushing river, seemingly shutting off all 
chance of succor from the north side and the Confederate 
commander had five strong divisions well in hand for his 
purpose. As Keyes had but 12,000 men the Rebel line far 
overlapped that of the Federals, D. H. Hill's Division leading 
the attack, followed by Longstreet and finally by G. W. Smith. 

The leading Union officers were by no means unprepared 
for the assault. General Keyes had visited the lines and 
admonished them to be on their guard, while that morning Lieu- 



*May 15th. Franklin's Division of the First and Smith's of the 
Fourth Corps had been joined to form the Sixth Corps under command 
of Gen. Wm. B. Franklin, hence the fact that only Couch's and Casey's 
were at Fair Oaks 



May 31. "62 Fair Oaks 89- 

tenant Washington, an aide of Johnston, had been captured, 
whose pecuHar conduct satisfied General Casey that something 
more than the ordinary impended. It was soon after noon 
that the bursting of two hostile shells gave warning that 
the ball had begun. So abrupt and overwhelming was the 
attack, all in front of the main line was swept away and that 
too, in spite of a counter charge by Naglee, was soon forced 
backward, thus leaving Couch's Division in front and here 
came the struggles of the Tenth Regiment. Heintzelman, 
nominally in command on the south side of the river, for more 
than two hours was not heard from, btxt at last hurried battle- 
ward, trying to halt the men straggling from the field and 
sending Kearney ahead with his division. It was while the 
one-armed hero was working havoc in the ranks of the enemv 
that the incident took place which the poet, Stedman, has 
embalmed inverse under the title of "Kearney at Seven Pines." 
One of his regiments appeared at a double quick with a 
characteristic inquiry as to where they should go in. The 
poetry reads: 

"Up came the reserve to the melee infernal 

Saying, 'Where shall we go in, the open or pine?' 

'Oh, anywhere. Forward! 'Tis all the same Colonel, 
You'll find lovely fighting along the whole line.'" 

The coming of Kearney and his men did much to inspirit 
the hard-pressed soldiers of the Fourth Corps, but the coming 
of this aid from the Third Corps was soon followed by fresh 
accessions to the attacking forces so the battle raged all the 
harder, with a gradual forcing back of the Union lines till the 
Confederates, flushed with seemingly assured victory, were 
astounded at a fierce enfilading fire from their left. Sumner, 
following the military maxim of marching to the sound of the 
enemy's guns had achieved the apparently impossible and 
under the most difficult conditions had taken his Second 
Corps across the almost floating bridge when his engineers 
said it could not be done. " But I've got to go over," was the 
sole response of the doughty chief and over he went with his. 
gallant followers in time to stem the tide of Confederate. 



90 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

success and by dint of the hardest kind of lighting hold the 
ground. Said General Couch as the relief appeared, "I felt 
that God was with us and the victory ours." About sunset 
the Confederate commander, General Johnston was severely 
wounded and was borne from the field, having been hit by the 
fragment of a shell, the command thereupon devolving on 
Gen. G. W. Smith. A sudden change had come upon the 
enemy; at four o'clock he was exultant, at dark his mirth had 
changed to gloom, and confusion reigned. 

With the second day's fight our Regiment had nothing to do. 
Other troops pushed the enemy back until all of the lost ground 
was regained, the foe being in full retreat and here it was that 
Hooker expressed his ability to capture Richmond. 

Such was the great battle in outline; the part Ijorne by the 
Tenth Regiment is best told by Captain Newell and others [j 
who had their part in the struggle. The Captain savs: 

The battle came upon us like a clap of thunder from a clear 
sky. The first intimation received was a furious and incessant 
firing just in front of us, and was occasioned by the enemy 
falling like an avalanche on General Casey's position. The 
men were in line, and muskets were seized in less time than it 
takes to write it. It seems the enemy took this particular 
time for the attack as they knew but two divisions of the 
army were across the river, the remainder being some nine 
miles away. Down they came through Casey's pickets, and 
on to his main line like a thunderbolt, carrying everything 
before them, and the Tenth was hardly in line before Casey's 
stragglers commenced pouring down the road to the rear. 
Notwithstanding the seriousness of the situation, Captain 
Bigelow of F, then Second Lieutenant, seeing General Casey 
raging among his retreating men, hatless, his white hair 
streaming in the wind, vainly trying, with the wildest exhorta- 
tions, to rally his disordered troops, turning to a fellow officer, 
said, "Did you ever see an old woman when her suds were 
boiling over?" "No. Why?" came back the reply. "Well, 
look at old Casey, he puts me in mind of one." The Tenth 
was now ordered forward about eighty rods to some rifle pits 
that had been previously thrown up. Finding the pits filled 
with water, they dropped down in the rear of them, the earth 
in front forming a partial shelter. The Seventh Regiment 



May 31, '62 Fair Oaks 91 

and McCarthy's Battery were some distance in the rear of the 
Tenth, on shghtly elevated ground, and to the left was the 
36th New York. At this place the firing was brisk for some 
time, the Tenth lying flat on the wet ground, and the batteries 
of both sides firing over their heads. A number of men were 
wounded at this time, from defective shells from our own 
batteries, and from the shots of the enemy. Private Roy of 
Company F, had a large piece of flesh scooped out of his 
shoulder by a defective shell from our side. The 55th New 
York was ordered up, and took position in a slashing in front 
of the Tenth, and commenced firing. Thev found this an 
extremely hot place, and in a few minutes thev began to 
melt away, and those that were left fell back before the murder- 
ous fire of the enemy. At this juncture the Tenth was moved 
forward some twenty-five rods, where they formed line of 
battle on the north side of a narrow strip of cleared land, and 
just in the rear of the position just left by the 55th New York. 
Still further north was the long line of kebel infantry. This 
was an unfortunate position for the Tenth. While the men of 
the right and left of the regimental line could plainly see the 
enemy, the whole center, although suffering from the musketry 
could not see the foe by reason of the high bushes and brush 
in their front, and could only fire by guesswork at the enemy's 
position. While thus situated, the left companies discovered 
that our line was being flanked on the left, and that a line facing 
the east had been formed in the woods, a short distance from 
the left flank of the Tenth, completely enfilading that line. 
The Regiment then fell back, firing all the time until they 
reached their camp; again moved forward as far as the rifle 
pits. From here they followed General Keyes across the road 
to a position considerably to the right of anv thev had previ- 
ously occupied, and again engaged the enemy, firing volley 
after volley with great rapidity. As the General com- 
plimented the men on their excellent order and discipline, 
Michael Moffatt, "F," gave a fine illustration of Irish wit and 
politeness, saying, "How could we help it. General, when you 
set us such a good example." Here Colonel Briggs was 
wounded, shot through both thighs while in front of his 
Regiment. Colonel Briggs was wounded about five o'clock 
in the afternoon, and was on foot at the time. When the 
Regiment was ordered to the rifle pits, he had dismounted for 
the purpose of being with them, leaving his horse in the 
vicinity, but when he came to look for it, it was gone, and the 
Colonel remained on foot the remainder of the engagement. 



"92 Thk Tr;\TH Massachusetts Infantry 

After he was wounded. Lieutenant Colonel Decker being laid 
up with rheumatism, and Major Marsh being absent, the com- 
mand devolved upon Captain Miller, as the senior officer 
present. He instantly rallied the men on colors, and formed 
line of battle, his left resting upon the road, and immediately 
became hotly engaged with the enemy. He held his ground 
until dark, keeping the foe in check until the arrival of re- 
inforcements. This last rally was one of the fiercest of the 
day, and many gallant men were here killed or mortally 
wounded. Here Company H sufTered most severely, as its 
flank rested on the road in full sight of the enemy. For his 
meritorious and gallant conduct on this occasion, Captain 
Miller received richly deserved commendation and praise 
from his superior officers. 

Capt. Joseph B. Parsons was wounded early in the engage- 
ment, one ball hitting him on the head, and another passing 
through the right leg above the knee, between the bone and 
the artery. The heavv firing from the rebels made it impos- ; 
sible to carry ofif the wounded, and they remained where they ^ 
fell during the continuance of the lighting. Captain Parsons 
crawled behind a small stump and lay down, and at times 
the Rebels were quite near him. He expected every moment 
to be captured, or hit again by the bullets that were w^hizzing 
through the air around him. Fortunately the Rebels were 
repulsed, and he was saved. During the engagement, a squad 
of men came along and Captain Parsons asked one of them to 
let down the fence so he could crawl through, hoping to make 
his escape under the protection of the felled trees in the adjoin- 
ing lot, but the soldiers were after the Rebs and would not 
stop. F. O. Hillman, of Company C, carried Captain Parsons 
to the rear, and he was again removed by Sergeant Bishop. 

Capt. Edwin E. Day, of Greenfield, was wounded early in 
the fight, and was being carried from the field by two men, 
when a shot killed Captain Day and w^ounded both the men. 
The enemy had possession of this part of the field, for a time, 
and took from Captain Day's person $150.00 in money, his 
gold watch, and his shoulder straps. 

Captain Smart met a most brutal death. He had been 
firing a carbine which he carried from Brightwood, and had 
no shoulder straps, or other mark, to distinguish him from a 
private soldier. He fell severely wounded in the leg, and when 
the Rebels came up, had some words with one of them, who, 
picking up his carbine, shot him through the neck, saying, 
"'There, take that, you damned Yankee." His pocket was 



May 31, '(52 Fair Oaks 93 

rifled of a gold watch. He had $150.00 in a breast pocket 
which they did not find. 

Lieutenant Leland, of Company H, was mortally wounded 
through the abdomen, and died the next morning in the 
hospital. He was a brave officer, and Christian soldier, and 
was lamented by his Company and fellow officers. 

Sergeant Braman, of Company C, was wounded in one leg, 
and while being taken from the field, a cannon ball took oft" 
one shoulder. This occurred about four o'clock, and he lived 
until eight and was buried on Sunday. 

Sergeant Whitney, of Company C, was wounded while 
attempting to bring Captain Day's body oft' the field. 

First Sergeant Cutler, of Company H, was killed in the last 
stand made by the Regiment, at the head of his Company. 

The flag of the Regiment was carried through the engage- 
ment by Sergt. James Knox, of Company I, a gallant soldier, 
who was promoted to a second lieutenancy immediately after 
the battle. The flag was shot through and through repeatedly, 
and the clothing of the bearer was torn in several places by 
shot; yet, strange to relate, he escaped without a scratch on 
his person. 

About half -past four in the afternoon reinforcements began 
to arrive, led by the gallant Kearney, who immediately fonned 
on the left of the line, and checked the further advance of the 
enemy, who lay all night in what had been the camp of the 
Tenth. Before dark the Regiment was relieved and tqok 
position in the rifle pits thrown up some days before the 
attack. 

The Regimental band labored hard and faithfully in carry- 
ing oft' and assisting the wounded on the field. In doing this 
work, they were exposed fully as much as the troops. Early 
in the engagement, they took position directly in the rear 
of the Regiment, which brought them under fire of the artillery 
of both armies. Generals came along and told them they were 
needlessly exposing themselves, and our artillery men in the 
rear, swore at them for being in the way, and for a time it 
seemed there would be nothing for them to do, but stand up 
and be shot at. They soon found employment in caring for 
the wounded, and plenty of it to keep them busy all the 
afternoon. While engaged in this duty, Albert Ingraham 
received an ugly wound in the shoulder, from a piece of shell, 
which passed through his body, and out near the backbone. 

It was the day after the battle that Drummer-Boy Walker 
of Company C made his acquaintance with General McClellan. 



94 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

The boy was using his well smoked cup in filling his canteen 
from a convenient spring when the Commander, riding by, 
asked for a drink, which, of course, he got, though the lad 
apologized profusely for the battered condition of his cup, but 
the General, making one of the ready replies for which he was 
noted, never failing to win thereby the lifelong fealty of his 
men, road away leaving an ardent admirer behind.* 

Report of Col. Henry S. Briggs, Tenth Massachusetts 
Infantry, to Lieut. Byron Porter, A. A. A. G., Devens's Brigade, 
Couch's Division, Fourth A. C. : 

Pittsfield, Mass., June 9, 1862. 

Sir: I have the honor to submit the following report of 
the part taken in the battle near the Seven Pines, on Saturday, 
the 31st of May, by the Tenth Regiment Massachusetts Vol- 
unteers, then under my command. 

I received the order to have my command under arms, about 
ten o'clock, immediately upon my return from visiting the ^ 
outposts, on my tour as general officer of the day. About ^ 
1.00 p. m. I had just left the 103d Pennsylvania, at the Deserted 
Huts, so called, on the wood road leading southerly, from the 
intersection of the Williamsburg road and the Nine Mile road 
and had been informed by Colonel McCarter, commanding 
the 93d Pennsylvania, then in motion, that he was proceeding 
to the same vicinity, with his command. After having 
reported their disposition to the General commanding the 
division, my Regiment was at first moved from its encamp- 
ment to a position behind the Nine Mile road, with the left 
on the Williamsburg road, and soon after to the left, across 
the last-named road, and behind the rifle pits made in echelon 
of companies. The pits were full of water, and could not be 
occupied without damaging the ammunition of the men, 
carried in their boxes and pockets. The men were required 
to lie down, to avail themselves of the slight cover afforded by 
the earth excavated from the pits. While they lay there, a num- 
ber were wounded bv the shell and case, of the enemv, and 



*Years afterward, when Walker was a man of business in California 
and the General was visiting there, the two met and naturally con- 
versation drifted to the Peninsula and Fair Oaks, and the old-time 
drummer boy asked his chief if he recalled getting a drink of water 
from a lad, the morning after the fight. "Yes," replied McClellan, 
" I remember it well, but I got it from a 'so year old," holding his hand 
about three feet or so from the floor. "Well," said Myron, "I was 
the 'so year old that gave you the drink of water." With such an 
introduction, conversation was easy for an indefinite period 



May 31, '62 Fair Oaks 95 

some from our own battery, posted immediately in our rear. 
From the rifle pits, which we occupied some fifteen or twenty 
minutes, and until the fire from the front had nearly ceased, 
I was ordered, by General Keyes, to proceed with mv command 
up the road, and to form a line near the large wood pile, in front 
of the abatis. 

I proceeded at once to execute the order, and the head of 
my column had advanced a few yards within the abatis, 
when I observed that the enemy had, in large force, formed 
upon the same position, nearly, to which I was ordered, and 
that he was placing in position, a battery to sweep the road. 
The General commanding the brigade, at this moment came 
up and was informed, for the first time, of my orders. At this 
point, on the left of the road, there was a small oblong-shaped 
open space, about thirty yards wide, and long enough to form 
five of the seven companies in line, fronting the enemy. 
H.aving communicated this to the General commanding the 
brigade, I obtained authority to form in this space, and pro- 
ceeded to do so, placing two of the right companies on the 
right of the road, in the slashing, in prolongation of my line. 
The space was so narrow that the line could only be formed 
on the right by files. The formation was scarcely completed, 
when a severe fire was opened on my left flank, from the woods 
and underbrush, not more than fifty paces distant. It was 
so severe that the line was broken, and the narrowness of the 
open space made it impossible to change front, although I 
endeavored to move one or two companies to the rear, so as 
to face the flank attacked. Finding my efforts unavailing, I 
gave the order to retreat, firing, but a considerable portionfof 
the Regiment having broken, under instructions from the 
General of the brigade, I gave the order to retreat. The only 
route being by the road up which we had advanced, I was 
compelled to leave a considerable number of killed and 
"wounded. 

Captain Day fell here, fighting in close conflict, and almost 
hand to hand with the enemy. He was at first only disabled 
by a wound in the leg, but received a mortal shot, while being 
borne away by his men. Captain Parsons also fell, wounded 
in the thigh and head, while in the act of repeating a command, 
just given by me, to change the front of his company. The 
position amounted to an ambuscade, and I beheve that no 
troops could be expected to stand the close and overwhelming 
fire, that surprised our left flank and rear. After being broken, 
and retreating from this position, the Regiment was readily 



96 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

reformed near its place of encampment. Soon after, I was 
ordered to again take position behind the rifle pits, before 
occupied. The movement was effected by crossing to the left 
of the road, and advancing in line in good order, although in 
the face of the artillery fire of the enemy, under which, a 
considerable number were swept from the ranks. From the 
rifle pits, after a short interval, I was ordered to move across 
the road by the flank, to the right, and posted near the wood, 
to the front, and right, of the place of the encampinent. The 
right of the Regiment soon became engaged with the enemy. 
Soon after, having been inforaied that our own troops were 
being fired upon by my men, I advanced from my position, 
in front of the center, to ascertain the fact, when I was wounded, 
apparently by two musket balls, which struck me simultane- 
ously, one passing through the under part of the left, and 
one lodging in the right thigh, and which so disabled me, that 
I was compelled to leave the field. I was carried to the rear, 
and very soon after, I am informed, the Regiment fell back, 
but was twice again reformed under Captain Miller, upon 
whom, as the senior officer then on the field, the command 
devolved, and was as conspicuous as it was effective, in rally- 
ing and holding his shattered command, in the face of over- 
whelming numbers. 

The severity of the loss of his company, which on the right 
was most exposed, attests the detennined courage and good 
discipline of both officers and men. He was bravelv sup- 
ported by Captain Smart, who was left wounded in the leg, 
and afterwards wantonly killed by a Rebel soldier, of whom 
he asked assistance. It was during one of these last rallies, 
also, that Lieutenant Leland was mortally wounded. No 
braver men, or more faithful officers, fell on that field than 
the three whose loss it is my painful duty to report. Lieuten- 
ant Colonel Decker, who had for a week previous to the engage- 
ment been disabled by a severe attack of rheumatism, but 
who was with the Regiment at the beginning, was, I am in- 
formed, soon after compelled to leave the field. Major Marsh 
was in the discharge of his duty with the Regiment until after 
it had reformed, upon retreating from the felled timber. 
Afterwards, he informed me he was ordered to take command 
of some broken detachments from other commands, that 
appeared in the vicinity without officers. The three com- 
panies on picket duty, and which afterwards came in without 
material loss, were A, E, and K. The number of men in the 
action, after deducting various details, could not have reached 



May 31, '6'2 Fair Oaks 97 

five hundred. I subjoin a list of casualties as far as reported. 
I beg leave, in explanation of the delay in forwarding this 
report, to say that I have been unable, by reason of the long 
passage by sea to Boston, and subsequent disability, to make 
it earlier. 

Henry S. Briggs. 
(R. R., Vol. XI, Part 1, p. 910.) 

The following letter was found among Major Miller's effects, 
after he was wounded and taken prisoner at Malvern Hill, 
and sent home with them. It was evidently designed for his 
brother : 

Dear Brother: You request of me a few of the incidents 
which came under my observation, and some of my thoughts 
and reflections upon that memorable day of the "Battle of 
Fair Oaks." I can only give you those of the first day's 
ei^gagements, and will endeavor to do so. My Company was 
detailed to do fatigue duty that day. I reported at one o'clock, 
and commenced work on the corduroy roads. We had worked 
about one-half hour, when the cracking of the rifle and the 
booming of the artillery convinced me that there was some- 
thing more than common up, and in our immediate vicinity, 
for it was not more than half a mile ahead of us and our camp. 
Our General Couch immediately gave orders to me to finish 
up the road so as to have it passable for artillery, in the 
shortest possible time. The roads were accordingly finished 
oft", and with my company I repaired to camp in "quick time." 
Equipments were on in the twinkling of an eye, our Regiment 
was sought out, and we took our place on the right of the old 
Tenth in some rifle pits, up to our hips in water. It was now 
nearly three o'clock, and the firing from artillery was very 
rapid on both sides, the bullets and slugs whistHng, and shells 
bursting all around. I had one man wounded here, and the 
first in the Regiment who was injured, (Dwight F. Monroe). 

General Casey's division, which was just in front of us, 
forming the first line of battle, was, by this time, completely 
driven from his position, the enemy taking some of his guns 
and turning them upon iis. The front was now open to the 
enemy, and only a narrow piece of slashed or fallen timber 
intervened between us (Couch's division) and the troops and 
guns of the enemy. Some men in our Regiment were wounded 
here. We were in this position half an hour, when we were 
ordered up into the slashing by General Keyes. We immedi- 
ately moved off by the flank, led by General Devens (our 



98 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

Brigadier) and Colonel Briggs. A narrow road led through the 
center, and up this road we proceeded in plain sight, and within 
easy rifle shot of the enemy. He, probably, not fancying a too 
near approach, wheeled a gun into position, and in a minute 
more, if he had got a good range, would have sent us to our 
long home. I noticed this, and immediately called the atten- 
tion of Colonel Briggs to the fact. He informed the General, 
who immediately ordered us into the slashing. We had re- 
mained in this position but a few moments, when a murderous 
fire was opened upon our left and rear from the woods which 
lined either side of our camp and the battle field. Our left 
flank was thus exposed to a raking fire without being able to 
return it to any extent, the nature of the ground being such 
that we could not change our line in season to save us from 
terrible slaughter. 

A retreat was accordingly ordered, the men firing as they 
retreated ; and so the Regiment took itself out of the slashing 
as best it could, retreating and forming again upon our own 
camp ground. My Company being on the right of the road, 
and where the fallen trees were thick, I did not hear the order 
to retreat, and remained some little time after the Regiment 
had left. I had here two men killed, and two wounded. The 
leaden missiles flew thick and fast, particularly after the rest 
of the Regiment had left, as they could see our heads above 
the logs, and concentrated their whole fire upon us. I could 
not help thinking at the time, of Headley's description of 
Napoleon's battles, where "the grape and canister swept every 
inch of the ground," and yet few men were killed. I was 
almost convinced that he might have told the truth, for it 
really seemed as though a man could not live there one moment. 
I concluded to take up with the advice an old lady gave her 
son (who was very tall) when he joined the army, to remember 
and "scooch" if he ever went into battle; thus most of us 
took ourselves back to camp, where we found our Regiment 
formed and ready for another trial. We remained here 
about half an hour under a galling fire. One of my men was 
used up here by a shell which struck a rail and threw it 
heavily against his chest, knocking him down. A little Irish 
waiter boy, in one of our companies, was sitting in front of his 
fire in camp, with kettle of soup, cooking; a shell came down, 
cutting off the top of one of our men's heads, and struck just 
under the kettle of soup and exploded. The soup, of course, 
flew in all directions, and the boy remarked, very coolly, that 
he "had better be after laiving." He took the back track, 



May 31, '62 Fair Oaks 99 

and was not seen again until next day. We were again 
ordered to the front, and we took our position, once more, 
in the rifle pits. At this time our batteries were all silenced 
or drawn off the field. The Rebel batteries, which were not 
more than five or six hundred yards distant, had perfect 
control, without any hinderance, of the whole field. Their 
infantry lay along in front and in the slashing before us, 
within easy distance, and I can assure you that it was very 
hot there. There was a perfect hissing in the air above and 
around us, of grape and canister, shot and shell, railroad iron, 
bullets, slugs and buckshot. 

In passing up to these pits, I had two men (one file) cut 
from my ranks, by a solid shot. One died immediately, and 
the other lived until the next morning. He had slept by my 
side and been with me ever since we left Medford. He was a 
noble young fellow, about twenty-one years old, and died 
like a soldier and a hero, (N. S. Putney). He did not utter a 
groan, a complaint, or a regret. He said, "Tell my captain I 
die like a true soldier. Tell my mother I die like a true soldier. 
Tell her I die in peace, and hope to meet her, and all the rest in 
heaven." One leg, with the hip, was shot nearly off, and his 
bowels were torn out. I never heard of a more heroic, more 
glorious death in all my life. But a few moments before he had 
shown me the stock of his gun, which had been badly shat- 
tered by a Minie ball. He remarked, pleasantly, that it was 
a very close shot, and if he got out alive, he should like to take 
the rifle home with him. The Regiment lost several men in 
passing up to the rifle pits this time, and many fell while in 
the pits. After a while, General Keyes ordered us to the 
right, to repel an attack in that direction. We accordingly 
filed off, led by General Keyes himself, and took our position 
in a pine grove on the right of the battle field. We could see the 
enemy approaching, though it was not possible to tell in 
what force. But we were not long in doubt, for he had 
turned our right flank and with a heavy force, got between 
us and General Couch, who had only one brigade of his divi- 
sion left with him. On they came, regiment after regiment, 
covering our whole front, and extending far past our right. 
We did not know, at first, that our right had been turned, 
and had doubts whether they were friends or foes there ; but 
soon the gray coats and slouched hats were perceived, savor- 
ing so strongly of rebellion that we were no longer in doubt, 
and the boys were told to "Give it to them," which they did 
with a will, though they still advanced firmly with closed 



100 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

ranks, four deep. Our men raked them severely here, and 
stood their ground bravely, until they were very near in front 
and were lopping our left flank as well as right. General 
Keyes here ordered a retreat, which was accomplished in good 
order, our men retiring out of the woods across an open field, 
up a rise of ground, in front of another piece of woods to the 
right of our camp ground, where we faced about and again 
sent death into their ranks, as they continued to approach us 
with measured tread and in the best order. 

It was near here that Captain Day was killed, and it was 
here, also, that Colonel Briggs was wounded. I made the 
very best use of my Sharp's rifle* here. I fired six shots into 
the left flank of the First South Carolina Regiment — they were 
within short rifle distance, and four deep. I would almost 
have pledged my rifle (though about as soon my head) that 
each shot brought down more than one Rebel. Our men 
checked them somewhat, but they continued to advance. 
Colonel Briggs being wounded, word came to me that I was 
in command of the Regiment. I then looked for it, and found 
the Colonel had gone to the rear, and that the left of the 
Regiment, with the colors, had retreated. I very soon ordered 
a retreat, and passed back through the woods; found our 
colors, formed on them, and, under General Heintzelman, 
again started for the enemy. We met them in the woods and 
gave them battle. Their numbers were, at this time, twentv 
to one of us, but luckily the brush on one flank of our line 
was so thick that they could not tell how long it was. They 
advanced very slowly, firing — my men pouring into them as 
fast as possible. We were at an "about face," at this time, 
facing the enemy, which brought my old Company H on the 
left, and in the road, where they could see the Rebels, and be 
seen by them; and, in my opinion, braver men never fought on 
the battle field. Six men of my Company fell dead here, three 
were mortally wounded, and some sixteen wounded. I then 
ordered a retreat, and it being nearly dark, we retired about 
a quarter of a mile to rifle pits in the rear — the men cheering 
the old flag which still floated over us, tattered and torn, one 
shell and several balls having passed through it. 

Thus ended this severe and first day's work of mine, upon 
the battle field. Our men fought bravely, and the colors were 



*It was a rifle presented to him by his partner in business, and 
another intimate friend at Shelbume Falls. At one time he wrote that 
if called into action, he should take his rifle and leave his sword in 
his tent. 



May 31, '(52 Fair Oaks 101 

well cared for in every engagement. Some of them, of course, 
played the shirk, and we know who they were; but most of 
them were fearless and brave. You may, perhaps, like to 
know what my own feelings were during the battle. I do not 
know that I felt very different from what I supposed I should. 
When I became convinced that there was tvork for us that 
day— that we must take part in the fight, my heart, for a 
short time, beat a little quicker, but when I had got my equip- 
ments on, and started for my Regiment, I felt perfectly at 
home. I had no fear, no regrets at seeing my men fall around 
me. What was done, seemed as a matter of course, and I had 
no heart to feel for the sufferings of my men, until the battle 
was over. Then, and not before, did I realize the horrors 
around me. We had two captains killed, one severely wounded, 
our colonel wounded, our brigadier general wounded, one 
lieutenant (mine) mortally wounded, three of my sergeants 
were killed outright, and the other two were wounded, one 
very severely. The men were cheerful all the time during the 
afternoon. 

[From the Neiv York Herald, June 5, 1862] 

THE DANGEROUS POSITION OF THE TENTH MASSACHUSETTS 

Meawhile another misfortune happened on our left. From 
its place near the rifle pits, the Massachusetts Tenth was 
ordered into a piece of ground nearly surrounded with abatis, 
and with the thick wood on its left; and the two regiments 
which had supported its left, — the Ninety-third and One Hun- 
dred and Second Pennsylvania, were ordered to the right. 
Thus the Tenth was left in a bad place, and entirely without 
support. As the enemy advanced, firing, and torn by fire of 
Flood's, McCarthy's and Miller's batteries — for Miller from 
his side of the field, when he could not get a clear shot at the 
enemy in his front, threw his missiles clear across the field, and 
with awful effect, too; as the enemy advanced under this 
fire, and the Tenth became engaged in front, a body of the 
enemy made their way through the woods on its flank. 
Lieutenant Eccleston was the first to discover this body, and 
rode desperately over the field, to find General Couch, that 
he might get an order for the Tenth to move, and so save it. 
But the gallant fellow's exertions were vain. General Couch 
was in the thick of the struggle, on the right, too far away 
to be reached in time. Colonel Briggs was informed of the 
approach of this body, but as he knew the position that 



102 The Texth Massachusetts Infantry 

Peck's Regiments had held, he deemed the report incredible, 
and went into the woods to see. He had not far to go. There 
they were, not only in the woods, but through it, and ere an 
order could be given, they delivered their fire full in the rear 
of the Tenth. Utter confusion was the result. The Regiment 
broke, but it proved to possess that power, which had been 
denied to volunteers, and claimed as the special attribute of 
old and so called "regular" soldiers, namely, the power of 
regeneration. It was rallied, and became once more a complete 
Regiment, with only those out whose bodies lay on the field. 
Nay, they did it repeatedly. Four difi'erent times thev were 
broken in that day, and four different times the gallant Tenth 
was rallied and went back into the fight. Let some regular 
regiment beat that. Thus reformed, the Tenth went back 
into the rifle pits, on the left of the road. But the left now 
rested upon others. Kearney was in, and at it. Berry's 
Brigade and a portion of Jameson's now held the left, and the 
Tenth was soon called across, to take part in the bitter struggle 
at that point, which was then our right, but which, bv the 
extension of our line, due to the arrival of fresh troops on 
both sides, eventually became the center. 

General Keyes, in a subsequent private conversation with 
a gentleman from Western Massachusetts, in regard to the 
fighting at Seven Pines, and the character of the Tenth, said, 
"Tell them, when you go back, that I have led a hundred 
regiments into battle, .and never did I see such bravery. 
I looked back at them as they advanced, while the shot fell 
like hail, and there never was such a dauntless corps. When 
the fight was over, I spoke to them of their courage, and they 
said they had only done their duty, but I have never heard 
them mentioned in the journals. 'Their conduct was, and is, 
unparalleled in the whole war." 

Official report of the killed and wounded, in the action of 
May 31st: 

KILLED 

Company B — Capt. EHsha Smart, Albert Roberts, Levi W. 
Brooks. 

Company C — Serg. James H. Braman, George L. Putnam, 
Frank M. White, Perry M. Coleman. 

Company D — Edward Gardner, Alfred C. Hemenwav. 

Company F — Elias Coomes, Thomas S. Gleason. 

Company G — Capt. Edwin E. Day. Andrew J. Briggs. 

Company H — Lieut. B. F. Leland', Serg. Charles D. Cutler, 
Corp. George A. Veber, E. M. Briggs, Elisha W. Fav, Svl- 



May 31, '62 Fair Oaks 103 

vester D. Johnson, Asa C. Merrill, Nahum S. Putney, Herman 
A. Spooner, Henry C. Utley. 

Company I — Hibbard K. Bean. William H. Estes. Robert 
J. Stewart, Daniel D. Shea. 

WOUNDED 

Col. Henrv S. Briggs, both thighs, severe. 

Company A — Color Corp. Nathaniel N. Powers, wounded 
and taken prisoner. 

Company B — John E. Atwood, ankle, slight; George Car- 
penter, leg, severe; Charles H. Millis. mortally; Sidney T. 
Estee,' hand, severe; Adelbert A. Haskins, hand, slight; 
George Hanson, hand, slight; Joshua A. Sherman, both legs, 
severe; Thomas Maginley, ankle, severe; Lewis F. Amidon, 
leg and hand, severe. 

Companv C— Capt. Joseph B. Parsons, thigh and head, 
severe; First Serg. Willard I. Bishop, leg, severe; Corp. 
Sidney S. Williams, arm, slight; Corp. Marcus T. Moody, 
hand, slight; Serg. Edwin Whitney, face, slight; Wilham M. 
Kingsley, both legs, severe; William Mather, both legs, 
severe; Henry Guyer, hand, severe ; Charles H. Atwood, foot, 
severe; Michael B'rew, head and arm, severe; J. R. Howes, 
head, severe; Frank W. Lee, neck, serious; Russell Taylor, 
arm, serious; Eben M. Johnson, hand, slight; William A. 
P. Foster, arm, slight. 

Companv D— First Serg. Mark H. Cotrell. arm, severe; 
Corp. Walter B. vSmith, shoulder, slight; Frank B. Mason, 
hand, slight; William Irving, arm, slight; William Jenne, 
chest and arm, serious. 

Companv E — Color Corp. C. Lortscher, chest, mortally. 

Company F— Corp. Hugh L. Gorman, shoulder, serious, 
Corp. Lawrence Magrath, chest, shght; Augustus Roy; 
shoulder, serious; Thomas Gaynard, ankle, severe; Lewis 
L. Dailv, head, severe; John L.' Knight, hand, slight; James 
G. Morse, hand, slight; Frank B. Hawes, hand, slight; 
Montreville H. Clark, arm, severe; Henry H. Rogers, 
abdomen, slight. 

Company G — Serg. George C. Kaulback, shoulder, severe; 
Corp. Ralph L. Atherton, arm, severe; Corp. William B. 
Atherton, leg and arm, severe; Corp. Charles M. Whitmore, 
thigh and ankle, serious; Moses C. French, thigh and head, 
serious; George S. Bennett, arm, slight; Robert Burns, 
neck, mortally; Edward Coolidge, shoulder, serious; Frank 
Gilman, head', severe; James M. Hah, hip, severe; Orange 
S. Oaks, wounded and a prisoner; Marshall A. Potter, shoul- 



104 Thk Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

der, severe: Elihu R. Rockwood, thigh, severe; WiUiam R. 
Smith, thigh, sHght; Daniel Smith, Jr., hand, sHght; Gaius 
T. Wright, face, sHght; Joseph F. Webster, head and arm, 
serious. 

Company H — Serg. WilHam Streeter. head, slight; Serg. 
Walter W. Carpenter, chest, serious; Corp. John W. Bigelow, 
shoulder, slight; John E. Austin, arm slight; Jacob Bringolf, 
side, mortally; Alonzo Bates, thigh, severe; Thomas F. Har- 
rington, arm, severe; John Hermann, breast, slight; Daniel 
G. Howes, breast, slight; Lorenzo D. Livermore, shoulder, 
slight; Henry W. Luther, hip, severe; John F. Merrill, chest, 
serious; Dwight F. Monroe, leg, severe; Thomas Murphy, 
hand, slight; Henry Parsons, arm, severe; George F. Stratton, 
shoulder, mortally; Elias E. Veber, hand, slight; Marcus M. 
Woodward, leg, slight; Henry C. Utley, head, mortally. 

Company I — Capt. Joseph K. Newell, side, slight; Corp. 
Robert Best, hand, slight; Corp. Philip Hyde, head, slight; 
John Barry, leg, slight; Smith A. Bugbee, chest, serious; (7 
George Conner, abdomen, serious; William B. Edwards, leg, 
slight; Charles L. Hartwell. arm, severe; Charles E. Hovey, 
neck, slight; James M. Justin, thigh, severe; James Living- 
ston, ankle, slight; Alexander C. Smith, leg, severe; Hanniel 
P. Smith, shoulder, severe; William H. Smith, arm, severe; 
Napoleon Trudeau, shoulder, slight. 

Company K — Color Corp. Marshal Barden, chest, mortally. 

Band — Albert K. Ingraham, shoulder, severe. 

Total — Killed, twenty-seven; wounded, ninety-five, six 
of them mortally. (Subsequent reports carried this record of 
killed and mortally wounded to thirty-nine.) 

Robert Burns was the first to give poetic expression to the 
innate wish of humanity to see itself as others see it, hence 
it will not be amiss to quote just a few words from other 
reports given in the "Records of the Rebellion" as printed 
by the Government. What the Corps Commander, General 
Keyes, thought of his Bay State Regiment has already been 
stated on page 102. General Couch, commanding the Division, 
riding up to the rear of the Regiment, the next day, was 
discovered and greeted with hearty cheers by the remnant 
of the men to whom he said, as he took off his hat, "Noble 
Tenth! It did its duty as it always will. I am proud of it 
and proud of my whole division ; I am not ashamed of a man 



May :n, "(52 Fair Oaks lOJ 

in it." Then wheeling his horse he galloped away. In his 
report to Corps Headqttarters. R. R. Vol. XI, Part I, p. 881, 
he savs, "General Devens, with only two regiments, held his 
ground firmlv, pouring in a most destructive fire at short 
distance, the o6th New York not retiring until ordered, while 
the Tenth Massachusetts, though its Colonel (Briggs) was 
carried off severely wounded, its Lieut. Colonel sick, * 
* * vet under the brave Captain Miller held its posi- 
tion until outflanked and several orders had been given it to 
fall back. At night it, with several others of my exhausted 
division and Kearney's, formed the front line facing the 
enemv. General Devens, severely wounded, remained bravely 
on the field until the last shot was fired." He also paid a 
glowing tribute to Lieutenant Edwards, an aide, at the same 
time Adjutant of the Tenth, saying, "My thanks are due to 
Lieutenant Edwards for his zeal and assistance; in a daring 
personal reconnoissance, he had his horse shot under him by 
mv side; at another time he threw himself at the head of a 
regiment and he it was who informed me of the proximity 
of General Sumner." General Devens in his report makes 
frequent mention of the part taken by the Tenth. On page 
907 of Vol. XI, R. R. he says, "In the action, seven com- 
panies of the Tenth Massachusetts, numbering about five 
hundred men, and eight companies of the 36th New York, 
numbering about four hundred men, were engaged, the other 
companies of these regiments being on picket duty; and it will 
be seen from the list which I annex that the casualties were 
heavv, especially in the former, but I beHeve both regiments, 
are entitled to credit for having done their duty faithfully." 

On the whole the month of May went out with a deal of 
commotion and the next day June came in with trouble of its 
own, but the Tenth had a comparatively quiet Sunday 
although other parts of the army were driving the enemy back 
towards Richmond. Under the impulse imparted by Joe 
Hooker and others, the Confederates sought their Capital 
with speed and they were followed as far as it seemed prudent tO' 
go without orders. As for our Regiment, it was in the rifle pits. 



106 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

all day, while details from all the companies were burying the 
dead. As a rule, each Company sought and buried its own, 
and that as close as possible to the spot where the soldier fell, 
marking the grave in some simple manner that it might be 
identified afterward. All over the ground covered by the 
Regiment, its dead were found, and tender, loving hands 
performed the last sad rites for those whom they had loved in 
life. Captain Smart's body was buried in the woods, back 
of the rifle pits, a service being conducted by the Chaplain of 
a Michigan regiment. An omnibus, filled with Richmond 
sight-seers was brought in during the forenoon, it having 
ventured too far, under the impression that the Yankees had 
been driven across the river. The fight of the preceding day 
came on so suddenly that the Rebels had the privilege of 
making their own choice of what the Regiment had in camp, 
and they improved their opportunity. If anything were left 
it was because they had no use for it. Their old rags, carpets, 
etc., used as blankets, were replaced by the regular articles 
which we had no time to take with us. It is said that Casey's 
men had left enough new uniforms to equip a whole division. 
General McClellan was heartily cheered as he rode along the 
lines that day. June 2d saw a continuation of the work of the 
previous day, though the Regiment moved only a short 
distance to the right. In the main our dead were buried singly 
while the Rebels were placed in trenches, holding from 
twenty to thirty. Bullet holes in one's clothing were rather 
the rule than exception, contusions of the skin were frequent, 
and some men had several wounds, small to be sure, but 
adding to the memories of the battle baptism received the 
very last of May. Fortifying the position was the order now 
and on the 3d, a line of abatis was placed in front of the rifle 
pits and at 6.00 p. m. a part of the Regiment was detailed 
for picket duty. 

CHICKAHOMINY 

The month of June was to be mingled in the story of the 
Tenth with memories of the swamps of Chickahominy. 



June 5, '62 



Chickahominy 



107 



Owing to the frequent rains, the earth was soaked full of 
moisture, "impassable for artillery" McClellan says, "almost 
so for infantry." Week after week in such a region, malaria 
laden, under the heat of an approaching summer solstice, 




A. H. Warren, Co. H, standing where Lieut. Leland and five Sergeants of "H" were 

killed or wounded. 
FAIR OAKS. 1902. 

there need be no wonder that soldiering lost all of its romance 
and came right down to hardest realities. While the Army of 
the Potomac was sweltering and soaking under the conditions 
of the campaign, the wounds of General Johnston had rend- 
ered it necessary to find a new head or leader for the Con- 
federates. The same appeared in the person of Robert E. 
Lee, who, during all of the subsequent months and years 
of the struggle, was found near at hand whenever a fight 
was wanted. No matter who commanded the Army of the 
Potomac, nor where the Army of Northern Virginia was 
found, very near also appeared the form and face of 
"Uncle Robert," clear up to and including Appomattox. 
He was, himself, a large part of the army whose comman- 
der he was. 

Line was formed at 4.00 a. m. of the 5th to repel an ex- 
pected attack, there being heavy firing on the right, but noth- 



108 The Tenth Massachusetts Ixfaxtry 

ing came of it. Fresh regiments were arriving, some of them 
from garrison duty at Fortress Monroe and Norfolk. Ignorant 
•of active campaigning, their verdancy brought out queer 
remarks and those who had suffered all the wav up the 
Peninsula were amused when one of the new officers inquired 
where he could buy a pie, at the same time saying that he 
had not eaten a mouthful of soft bread in three days; nor 
was the rejoinder exactly consoling when he was told that, 
probably, he never would see any more soft bread. The 
■curiously inclined were having much interest in the archaic 
weapons which the enemy threw away in the battle, the 
ground being strewn with all sorts of guns, including as diverse 
weapons as the Mississippi rifle and an old fashioned smoothbore 
shotgun. The regulation Richmond muskets made for the Con- 
federates with the United States machinery stolen from Har- 
per's Ferry, were far from being finished shooting-irons and {j 
hardly bore comparison with those manufactured in Spring- 
field. Battle loss and the hospital had taken so many of the 
men that, out of the entire Regiment, only 463 reported for 
duty on the 9th, less than half the number that almost a 
year before had been awaiting muster-in at Springfield. 
New shelter tents, blankets and other necessaries came to 
take the place of those lost at Fair Oaks. Continuous heavy 
firing did not prevent the arrival of the sutler with wagons, 
and luxuries could be had by a liberal expenditure of funds. 

For fully a week following the battle only hard-tack and 
coffee were issued as rations, but these were gratefully taken 
and used. Surgeon Chamberlain received from the Ladies' 
Soldiers' Aid Society of Holyoke two large boxes of hospital 
stores, the same containing great quantities of bedding, towels, 
handkerchiefs, table cloths, 1,500 yards of bandages, besides 
a liberal amount of jellies, jams and other preserves, with 
wine, tea and almost everything that intelligence could 
suggest as useful in sick quarters. A special package worth 
about sixteen dollars was obtained by the united efforts of 
the little Misses Ida Goldthwaite and Annie F. Pierce, the 
same being expressly for Company I. It was in the week 



June 14, 'fi2 Chickahomixy 109 

following the fight, that General Keyes came riding over to 
the Regiment, and learning what one it was, said, "I came 
on purpose to see you; at the battle last Saturday, you saved 
the left wing of the army. Great praise and honor are due 
3^ou, and I w411 see that justice is done you in the reports." 

The 14th was not only the anniversary of the assembling 
of the Regiment on Hampden Park, but it also marked the 
discharges of Major Marsh and Lieutenant Woodward of 
Company H, the former starting at once for home and the 
latter resigning on account of severe attacks of rheumatism. 
During these days the entire Regiment worked at redoubt 
building and formed line every morning, sometimes as early 
at three o'clock, to be ready in case of an attack. On the 17th, 
or Bunker Hill Day, heavy cannonading in the direction of 
Fart Darling on the James gave rise to the rumor that the 
Fort had been taken. Hot coffee was sent out in goodly 
quantities to ward off malaria which was constantly suggested 
by the heavy mist overhanging the entire region every 
morning and lasting for several hours. The situation was 
equally trying for the enemy and all of their hospital quarters 
were crowded. To ward oft" threatened scurvy, rations of 
potatoes, pickles and dried apples were issued. It was on or 
about the 19th that Brig. Gen. I.N. Palmer, a regular army 
officer, and then lately in command of a brigade in Casey's 
Division, succeeded General Devens who. badly wounded, 
was in the hospital. Relatively, everything was quiet, though 
there was heavy firing at times; w^e were still working on 
fortifications and were turning out at three o'clock in the 
morning; skirmishes were frequent; and Sunday, the 22d, 
brought an inspection at 5.00 a. m. 

The 2od had its early rising, drill from 3.00 to 4.00 a. m., 
followed by hot coffee and a short rest. It came out that 
day that First Lieutenant Chase of Company K resigned 
June 20th, and had gone home. Sharp picket firing began 
at about five in the afternoon, whereupon the line was 
strengthened by details from the Division, Company K going 
out to represent the Tenth. Heavy rains fell in the night and 



110 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

some officers thought the Confederates were evacuating Rich- 
mond, but a reconnoissance revealed the enemy at his old 
stand and in full force. That day also brought the glad 
tidings that Captain Ozro Miller of Company H had been 
promoted Major, news that everyone received with acclama- 
tion, because his brave conduct at Fair Oaks could not be 
forgotten. Someone has written concerning the appearance 
of the battle field three weeks after the fight, saying, "Under 
June sun and rains, it looks desolate and offensive. Owing 
to the water and mud, with various conditions of burial, the 
body of many a poor soldier was inadequately covered and 
now, owing to scanty covering, manv a black, decaying 
hand and foot, or even head, make a ghastly projection and 
the emanating stench is sickening. In a greater degree is 
this also true of the carcasses of the fine horses slain in the 
battle, whence nauseous gases taint the whole atmosphere. 
Anyone still possessed of that quality called the poetry of 
war should take a walk over this scene and he would soon be 
separated from any illusion he may have had as to the romance 
and poetry of the battle field." 

The 24th was a day of vigilance, beginning with a sharp 
fusilade on the picket line and the men were ordered out 
with all of their equipments and to be ready to move at any 
moment; though the order in part was soon countermanded, 
not a man was permitted to leave camp under any condition. 
Of the 25th, General A. S. Webb, in his Pcuinsnla Campaign 
says : 

SEVEN DAYS' FIGHT 

With Richmond less than five miles distant, the Com- 
mander-in-Chief now prepared to push still nearer, he deter- 
mining to move the line in front of Seven Pines forward to a 
large clearing on the other side of a heavily timbered piece 
of ground, through the middle of which ran a small stream, 
whose swampy borders until that time had formed the 
extreme picket line of the opposing forces in that direction. 
This was known as the affair of Oak Grove. 



June 25, '62 Oak Gkove 111 

OAK GROVE 

Heintzelman's Corps, part of Sumner's, and Palmer's brigade 
of Keyes's Corps advanced in good order through the timber, 
met and repulsed a stronge force of the enemy and occupied the 
position, throwing out a picket within four miles of Richmond. 
* * It is at this point we reach the crisis of the Penin- 

sular Campaign. Despite delays, drawn battles, losses and 
unlooked for natural obstacles," McClellan had succeeded, as 
he had promised, in reaching the vicinity of the Rebel Capital, 
thus relieving Washington, alarming the southern leaders, 
and raising the anticipations of the North. 

As to the part played by the Tenth in that day's doings, 
we find the Regiment roused at three o'clock, as usual, with 
customary policing of the grounds. During the forenoon 
heavv skirmishing in our front resulted in the formation of 
battle line and thus we moved out to the battle ground of 
May 31st, where arms were stacked, the entire Division lying 
on the left of the road in column by regiment, our brigade, 
Palmer's, being almost to the rear of the whole. As the firing 
grew warmer an aide was seen riding down the line and, 
saluting, he requested the presence of General Palmer with his 
brigade at the front. To obey took but a few moments and 
we advanced into the woods where line of battle was again 
formed in a position nearer Richmond than any as yet held 
bv our troops. We advanced to the edge of the woods and 
halted, while just across a cleared plot of ground, in the edge 
of another strip of woods were the Rebel skirmishers. No 
further order for advance was given and an irregular firing 
was kept up all the afternoon. At nightfall, the enemy 
brought up two cannon and shelled the woods, sometimes 
with case shot, sometimes with grape which rattled through 
the trees, but by dint of hugging the ground closely and, owing 
to the elevation of their range, little harm came to us, though 
the regiments to our left did not fare so well. 

At 9.00 p. m. intrenching tools were brought up and tired 
men undertook to dig rifle pits, the ground, however, proving 
to be of the nature of quicksand, the sand running back as 
rapidly as it was thrown out. One party, in the darkness, 



112 The Tenth Massachusetts Ixfantry 

found themselves unearthing the graves of a number of 
recently buried Confederates, thus ending digging in that 
direction, while bodies of the enemy were seen still unburied 
though it was almost four weeks since the great battle. One 
body was seen hanging from a tree, caught in the branches, 
evidently that of a sharpshooter. The night came near 
being one of horrors, though the church bells of Richmond 
could be heard as they indicated the hours of the passing 
night. Unable to make any headway in their protective 
measures, the men threw down their shovels and picks and 
then lying down attempted to get a little sleep on the moist 
earth. The respective lines of battle were not more than four 
hundred yards apart and a strong picket line commanded by 
Major Miller was in front of the Regiment, now under the 
command of Captain Barton. The foe was too near for our 
comfort and very likely he also felt the same way. Every 
move of the enemy was audible and their speculation as to 
the probable numbers of the "Yanks" was plainly heard. 
Their constant chopping evidenced a wish to make any 
advance on our part still more difficult. Very likely "bluffs" 
were put up on both sides and Lieutenant (then Sergeant) 
Eaton tells of hearing orders given in a most resonant manner 
by some on the Rebel side, apparently to convey the impres- 
sion of a large force in the vicinity. When our folks sent over 
an emphatic indication of their presence, the Rebel force 
seemed to fade away until a very faint "Halt " in the distance 
told of the dispersion of the enemy, probably not more than 
a corporal's guard. Occasionally, too, the Rebels would tire 
volleys at us which we were in duty bound to repay, with the 
result that the pickets, between both fires, had an unreasonably 
hard time of it. Altogether, it was an extremely bad night 
for the Regiment. In war annals, that day is numbered one 
in the Seven Days' Fighting. 

Though the Tenth did all that was required, it had no ex- 
tended list of casualties for the day and night; indeed, just 
before daylight of the 26th, the brigade fell back to the breast- 
works of Casey's old position, leaving the picket still in the 



June 27, '62 Savage Station 113 

front. During the forenoon Abercrombie's brigade came up 
and took the place of Palmer's, and at noon or thereabouts, 
the picket was relieved. On that day Fitz John Porter with 
his Fifth Corps and McCall's Division of the First were 
fighting at Mechanicsville or Ellison's Mills, the second battle 
in the memorable series. This was on the north side of the 
Chickahominy and at the extreme Union right. 

SAVAGE STATION 

On the 27th there was nothing noted save a march to 
Savage Station, till nearly night, when the Regiment moved 
to the right of the line. Heavy firing in that direction all day 
indicated work for somebody. We reached Sumner's Second 
Corps just at dark, being thrown out as skirmishers in the 
rear of those who were trying to prevent straggling. The 
wounded of Porter's Fifth Corps were carried by in great 
numbers. At midnight we returned to Savage Station and 
encamped. The movement towards the James River was 
now beginning, the failure of Federal reinforcements, together 
with Jackson's junction with Lee, making any further attempts 
on Richmond at present futile. Later we learned that the 
sound of battle was incident to that of Gaines's Mill or Cold 
Harbor, again on the extreme right, where Porter once more, 
with the same following of the day before, was giving the 
enemy grand lessons in the art of war. Reinforced by portions 
of the Second and Sixth Corps, the ground was held against 
a vastly greater force of the enemy. The 28th saw the trans- 
ferral of that part of the army, hitherto on the north side of 
the Chickahominy, to the south side and the consequent 
destruction at White House of the supplies that could not be 
removed to the new depot on the James. There were scenes 
of great activity in all directions; wells dug for use of the 
troops were filled up with all sorts of surplus matter, and 
about the middle of the forenoon, column was formed and the 
march for the James began. The weather was very hot and 
a deal of straggling resulted. 

While, on the 29th, the Second and Sixth Corps were 



114 The Tenth Massachtsetts Infantry 

engaging the enemy at Savage Station, and the remainder 
of the Second Corps was waging the battle of Peach Orchard 
or Allen's Farm, the troops already on the south side of the 
river were on their way towards their new base. With the 
Tenth Regiment, there was a bit of variation in that a certain 
North Carolina Regiment of cavalry that had made it a regular 
thing to drive in the Union cavalry pickets each morning, this 
time ran into a masked battery well supported by the Seventh 
Massachusetts. Their reception was unexpectedly warm and 
about eighty of them were speedily unhorsed, the remainder 
badly scattered, and their Major, commanding, was mortally 
wounded. Poor fellow, he made more fuss over the loss of 
his horse than he did at his own approaching dissolution, 
saying that the steed had cost him two hundred dollars. The 
captured arms included sabres, stolen by Secretary Floyd 
when in Buchanan's Cabinet, Sharp's carbines, double-bar- 
reled guns, and a number of horses. The weapons were 
archaic and easily rendered unfit for use, so that the most of 
them were soon dumped into the first stream crossed by the 
Army. Compared with the section so recently warred over, 
this through which the troops were passing was attractive 
and all enjoyed the change, though many regretted the 
seeming necessity of the shift of direction away from Rich- 
mond rather than towards it. Marching very near the 
enemy's line, the utmost care was taken to prevent knowledge 
of the movement reaching the ears of the foe. Orders were 
transmitted in whispers, so, though our Army was within easy 
hailing distance much of the time, it reallv passed along 
unheeded. It was not an ideal way to pass a Sunday night, 
yet through all the long hours of darkness, on the 29th and 
the 30th, for more than eight long hours, Reyes's Corps 
leading, the men were wading streams, stumbling over fallen 
trees, and halting whenever approaching an unusually 
dangerous portion, to ascertain just how to get over it; all 
this in threading the mazes of AVhite Oak Swamp, for fully 
nine weary miles of distance. 



June 30, '(iS White Oak Swamp 115 

WHITE OAK SWAMP 

The earliest arrival on the banks of the James was at 3.00 
a. m., just before sunrise, and thence onward the men were 
coming up until, at eight o'clock, it could be truthfully- 
said that the brigade had arrived. Quickly the wearied men 
threw themselves on the green grass for long deferred rest, 
while the extended train of baggage wagons moved on to 
Harrison's Landing, some miles further down the river, where 
it was understood the army would rendezvous. Swinton says 
there were 5,000 wagons in the train and above 2,500 beef 
cattle. 

Nearby, seated under an oak, were General McClellan and 
other officers, conversing and watching the signals exchanged 
with the gunboat, Aroostook, in the river, where also were 
other wooden vessels and the ironclad Monitor. Here was 
the first opportunity during fully a month for officers and 
men to take a real bath and many seized it, though clearer 
water would have improved the same. There was no change 
of clothing to follow the liquid plunge and the same garments, 
well shaken, had to be replaced. "Well shaken," for the 
month on the Chickahominy had inducted the army into all 
of the peculiarities and properties of the insect immortalized 
by Burns, when he saw one on the bonnet of a lady in church, 
in other words that creepy bit of God's creation scientifically 
known as the pediculus corporis, though the soldier was wont 
to call him a grayback. 

While we passed through the swamp unmolested, heavy 
firing through the day told us that those who came after us 
were not so fortunate and we learned that history had been 
in progress, since almost the entire Potomac Army, except our 
immediate part of the Fourth Corps, had been fighting the 
Battle of White Oak Swamp and Glendale or Frazier's Farm, 
Turkey Bend or Charles City Cross Roads; indeed, there are 
several other appellations by which the engagement is some- 
times known ; they were fierce and well contested fields where 
General Franklin and others had fought Stonewall Jackson 



116 The Tenth Massachusetts Infaxtky 

and his well-seasoned soldiers with a large part of the rest of 
the Rebel Army. After a protracted rest, at about 4.00 p. m., 
we retraced our steps toward Malvern Hill, meeting thus 
many regiments that had been under fire during the day, 
but our arrival was too late for participation. The ground 
was covered with the wreck of battle, in the midst of which 
we stacked arms and lay down to await the morrow, confident 
that its advent would bring to us our portion in the dread 
series which thus far we had escaped. 

Of that night's march through White Oak Swamp, a partici- 
pant in Company K tells a graphic story as follows: 

That was the hardest night's work I ever experienced; for 
twelve hours our knapsacks were not off our backs. Through 
woods so dark it was impossible to see three feet in any 
direction, and the roads very muddy, such a vast column 
moving over them with artillery, made it very slow traveling, 
frequently not going half a mile an hour. After midnight, at 
every stop, if not for more than two or three minutes, the 
whole column would sink to the ground without regard to 
mud or water. Here it was that many slept while marching. 
At any halt they would sink and rise with the mass, and for 
a time move on unconsciously. One comrade told me that he 
marched the better part of the night asleep. At sunrise we 
passed through the woods and entered a wheat field, covering 
almost a square mile, ready for the sickle. It was shoulder 
high and thick with weeds and clover. We marched through 
it and stacked arms, threw off our knapsacks, spread our 
rubber blankets, slept two or three hours and felt refreshed. 
This was Haxall's landing on the James River. This was 
June oOth, and one of the hottest days. The sun poured its 
scorching rays on our weak and exhausted bodies, but we had 
to endure without even a leaf for shelter. At 2.00 p. m. we 
took arms and moved towards the woods expecting to camp 
for the night and rest, but how we were disappointed! It was 
the forerunner of a bloody battle. After marching into the 
edge of the woods we left our knapsacks and started double 
quick to the front. Away we went as fast as possible. I was 
compelled to give up and fell exhausted. (He had only recently 
returned from the hospital.) Night was fast approaching 
and as we (himself and others) could not find the Regiment 
we returned to the knapsacks. On the next dav was the battle 
of Malvern Hill. 



f 



July 1, "62 Malvern Hill 117 

MALVERN HILL 

The last six days of June had been bloody ones; Oak Grove, 
Mechanicsville, Gaines's Mill, Savage Station, Allen's Farm, 
White Oak Swamp and Glendale are all graven deeply in 
American history; all of them steps in the retrograde move- 
ment towards Harrison's Landing. The Confederates, under 
Jackson, had attacked the Union rear at White Oak Swamp 
on the 30th. while Longstreet, flanking the swamp, had pushed 
forward on the Long Bridge or New Market road and coming 
up with the Union forces fought at Glendale. The latter 
engagement enabled McClellan to concentrate his united 
forces on the heights of Malvern and there to await the attack 
of the Confederates with advantages most decidedly in his 
favor. If the closing days of June had been written in bloody 
characters on the sacred soil of Old Virginia, July in its 
opening day was to impart a still deeper crimson to the Old 
Dominion. So strong was the position that the soldierly eye 
of Lee warned him of the danger, yet unwilling to lose the 
results of his sanguinary progress downward from the Chicka- 
hominy he risked the encounter. Ignorance of the situation 
or dread of the assault held off the attack till late in the after- 
noon, though there was an artillery duel earlier, and at three 
o'clock Anderson's brigade of D. H. Hill's Division had 
attacked Couch's front and had been handsomely repulsed, 
Swinton says by the "excellent practice of Kingsbury's 
Battery with the steady fire of the Tenth Massachusetts and a 
charge of the 36th New York — the latter Regiment capturing 
the colors of the 14th North Carolina in a hand-to-hand 
conflict." 

It was six in the afternoon before the real contest began 
with the advance of D. H. Hill, only to be repulsed by the 
forces in their strong position. Not till nine o'clock did the 
enemy retire, completely repulsed and with a loss of quite 
five thousand men, that of the Federal forces not reaching 
above one-third that number. Competent critics say that the 
assault was the only error of the kind that Lee ever was 



118 The Te;nth Massacht'setts Infantry 

guilty of, the single lesson being quite sufficient. Notwith- 
standing the complete victory won by the Union Army, it was 
impossible for it to remain separated from its base of supplies, 
so during the night, with the rear covered by cavalry and 
infantry, under Colonel J. T. Averill, the troops were with- 
drawn to Harrison's Bar on the James, followed closely by 
the Confederates who, finding the position unassailable, after 
several days' observation, retired on the Sth to Richmond. 
As to the part borne by the Tenth in this, its first real fight 
after Fair Oaks, again let Captain Newell tell the story: 

Depleted in men, limited in rations, and with a scantv 
supply of ammunition, the morning found the worn and 
wearied soldiers ranged on the high and drv position at Mal- 
vern, with firm purpose and renewed hopes. When the army 
had all arrived, it was posted with its left and center resting 
on Malvern Hill, while the right curved backward through {_^ 
a wooded country, toward a point below Haxall's on 
the James. 

Malvern Hill forms a high plateau, sloping towards Richmond 
from bold banks towards the river, and bounded by deep ravines, 
making an excellent defensive position. The national line of battle 
was formed with Porter's Corps on the left near Crew's house, where 
the artillery of the reserve, under Colonel Hunt, was so disposed on 
high ground, that a concentrated fire of sixty guns could be brought 
to bear on any point on his front or left; and on the highest point on 
the hill. Colonel Tyler had ten siege guns in position. 

Couch's Division, to which the Tenth belonged, was placed 
on the right of Porter; next on the right were Kearney and 
Hooker; next, Sedgwick and Richardson; next. Smith and 
Slocum; then the remainder of Keves's Corps, extending in a 
curve nearly to the river. The Pennsylvania Reserves were 
in rear of Porter and Couch, as a reserve. The left, where the 
weight of the attack was to come, was very strong, and the 
right was strengthened by slashings, and its flank covered 
by gunboats. 

Artillery firing commenced about ten o'clock, and continued 
from time to time until afternoon, when General Lee resolved 
to carry the position by storm, and massed his troops on his 
right, and our left for the purpose. About two o'clock. 
Anderson's brigade of North Carolinians charged across the 
plain, and were met full in the face by a withering fire from 
the Tenth and o6th New York, and from our batteries on the 
hill. Flesh and blood could not stand the incessant fire to 



July 1, '62 Malvehx Hill 119 

which they were exposed; their Une wavered for a moment, 
and then fell back in confusion, closely followed by the Tenth 
and 36th, who now charged across the plain, and took position 
some distance in advance of the one they had previously held. 
One battle flag was captured, (30th North Carolina), on which 
was inscribed, "Williamsburg" and "Seven Pines," and a 
large lot of prisoners. The ground was covered with their 
dead and wounded, and for more than an hour, prisoners 
kept coming in. some severely wounded, while a large number 
were entirely unhurt. The attack and repulse had been so 
rapid, that very few casualties had occurred on our side. The 
enemy were armed wath Enfield rifles of a later and better 
manufacture than our own, and manv of our men changed 
muskets advantageously on the battle field. After this repulse, 
everything was quiet for some time, except occasional artillerv 
firing, and shots from the Rebel sharpshooters, posted in the 
ti^es on our front, who were firing at our skirmishers, and 
picking oft' our officers. Here Major Miller, the gallant com- 
mander of the Tenth, fell mortally wounded by a Minie ball 
through the neck. He was immediately carried to the rear, 
and as tenderly cared for as the circumstances would allow. 
When our Army fell back, he was left, with the rest of our 
wounded, under charge of Dr. Jewett, who accompanied them 
to Richntiond. Medical aid was of no avail, and after lingering 
some days, he died, and was buried in Richmond. His loss 
to the Regiment was irreparable. Born to command, of firm 
patriotism, and unflinching courage, he was looked up to bv 
the officers and men, as the future commander of the Tenth, 
and his fall cast a gloom over the whole Regiment, which 
could not be dispelled. Capt. Fred Barton of Company E was 
now the senior officer present, and for the balance of the day 
held the men up to their work, performing his dutv with great 
credit and personal bravery. 

About four o'clock, the enemy prepared themselves for 
an overwhelming charge, expecting to crush our thin infantrv 
line, which skirted the base of the hill, and looked like a long 
blue ribbon unrolled. Their charging column was formed in 
three double lines in the woods, out of our sight, but the com- 
mands of their ofificers could be distinctly heard, encouraging 
them for the fearful work they were about to attempt. When 
everything was in readiness, they filed out of the woods by 
the flank, into the open plain, with lines parallel to our own, 
then fronting, advanced, compactly and swiftly, towards our 
line of battle. But that line was formed of desperate men, 



120 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

this was the last ditch, defeat would have been the ruin of the 
Army of the Potomac, and every man that held the line at 
Malvern Hill knew the great interests that were at stake, and 
how much depended on the issue. The very essence of the 
army was in that line of battle, and with bated breath, and 
nerves strained to the highest pitch, they awaited the shock. 
Now opened the artillery on the heights; sixty cannon, all 
trained on the advancing column, vomited forth their storm 
of iron hail, making large rents, which were filled up, and 
shoulder to shoulder, seemingly irresistible, they continued the 
advance. Every now and then, a huge shell from our gun- 
boats lifted up a whole platoon. The ground over which they 
passed was covered with their dead and dying, and still their 
column wavered not. Nearer and nearer it came, and the 
wild southern yell was heard. Then our infantry opened fire; 
the smoke of battle covered the field, lifting now and then; 
men loaded and fired with the rapidity of lightning, and the> 
volleys were fired with terrible effect, right in the faces of thev 
advancing foe. Grape and canister, just escaping the heads 
of our own men, cut mercilessly and cruelly the advancing 
lines. Human endurance had reached its utmost limits; 
baffled, broken, and utterly demoralized, they turned and fled. 
The slaughter did not stop there; the plain in front at once 
seemed filled with a panic-stricken mass of human beings, all 
bent on the one object of self-preservation. As long as any 
were within reach, the fearful slaughter continued. 

In that charge, the Tenth lost many brave and gallant 
men. Lieut. Charles Wheeler had an arm taken off at the 
shoulder, while cheering his men by example, as well as words. 
He had collected together half a dozen muskets, which he 
had loaded and was in the act of firing at the Rebels. He had 
just called the attention of the writer of these pages to his 
"battery," when he was struck, and his arm fell lifeless by 
his side. He went with the lamented Miller to Richmond; his. 
arm was amputated, and after suffering in Rebel prisons, he 
was exchanged, and rejoined his Regiment. Lieutenants 
Pierce and Shurtleff were severely though not dangerously 
wounded. Three of the best sergeants fell that day, either 
one capable of commanding a company. Company B lost 
Sergeant Mallory; Company E, Sergeant McFarlane; and 
Company D, Sergeant Hemmenway, all brave and gallant 
officers. 

The Regiment had sixty rounds of cartridges to each 
man when the action commenced. Every man emptied his. 



July 1, '62 Malvern Hill 121 

cartridge box, and some fired more than a hundred rounds, 
using the ammunition from the boxes of the dead and wounded 
on the field. 

Every charge was fired, and no more could be obtained. 
Appeals were made to regiments in reserve to let us have some 
ammunition from their filled boxes, but they could not spare 
any, as they did not know how soon they might need it them- 
selves. Regiments were constantly being relieved that had 
not been in action half as long as the Tenth, and yet no relief 
came for the tired and weary boys. Just before dark a regi- 
ment marched up and took their place. Only a trifle over 
four hundred men were in hne at the commencement of the 
engagement, and of this number eight were killed and seventy- 
three wounded, which was a remarkably small number, 
considering the time the Regiment was engaged, and the 
fierceness of the struggle. Many of the wounded died, in 
consequence of their wounds not being properly attended to. 
The more seriously wounded were left to the tender mercies 
of the enemy, and" did not receive the care that was necessary 
to restore them to convalescence. 

After being reheved, the Tenth marched to a position just 
in rear of our batteries, and rested until midnight. 

CASUALTIES IN THE TENTH, JULY 1, 1862 

Killed, Maj. Ozro Miller. 

Company A— Wounded, Edward J. Mallory. J. H. Merrill, 
mortallv, George Tucker, Peter Smith. 

Companv B — Killed, Serg. John W. Mallory. 

Company C— Wounded, Charles S. Dodge, Calvin B. Kings- 
lev, Henry C. Burby, Fred W. Clark, Edward P. Nally. 

'Companv D — Killed, Serg. Haskell Hemmenway, Richard 
S. Collis, ' Nelson N. Griffin. Wounded, Lieut. Charles 
Wheeler, Abram Bidgood, Charles T. Goodale, Crowell Fair- 
childs, Thomas Rieley, John Carey, Charles Potter, Orrin S. 
Bradlev, Frederick Arbuckle, Henry N. Howard. 

Lieut. Wheeler was wounded by a shot from our own bat- 
terv; the range was so low that, though very effective, it 
seriously endangered our own forces. When the attention of 
General' Palmer was directed to the situation, he quickly 
ordered an elevation of the aim of the guns. 

Companv E— Killed, Serg. Charles A. McFarlane. Wounded, 
Henry J. O'Hara, William N. Aiken, George Evans, James. 
Kilroy. 

Company F— Killed, Thomas F. Burke. Wounded, Corp. 



122 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

Lawrence Magrath, mortally; George G. Strickland, mortally; 
George D. Justin, mortally; Charles O. Bovden, Chester S. 
Elhs. 

Company G — Wounded, Lieut. George Pierce, Jr., Corp. 
Pliney F. Mather, Lewis H. Scott. 

Company H — Wounded, Corp. Henry Daufen, John D. 
Allis, mortally. Welcome F. Cone, Nelson Carter, Murray J. 
Guilford, Micajah H. Vincent, J. M. Williams, mortally. 

Company I — Wounded, Serg. Charles H. Knapp, Corp. 
Osmyn B. PauU, William H. Atkins, mortally; Edward 
Brick, Charles H. Decie, Michael F. Healy. 

Colonel Parsons said he recommended Sergt. Knapp of 
Company I for promotion bacause of his remark at Malvern 
when shot in the wrist, "Boys, I can see daylight thro' me, 
but that ain't going to stop me." 

Company K — Killed, James B. Lay, Lawrence Da}'. 
Wounded, Corp. Joseph Tinkham, Willis W. Clark, Isaiah 
Crosby, iVnson L Collier, Horace H. Gorham, Joseph Gaddisj 
Thomas Jarrold, Albert Newhouse, James M. Noble, George 
W. Thompson. 

The battle at Malvern Hill did much to inspire the Tenth 
with renewed confidence in itself. The terrible day at Fair 
Oaks had a depressing influence which needed counteracting. 
Malvern showed that, with equal conditions, the northern 
troops would more than match the southern Rebels. 

One of those who fought in the ranks had this to say of two 
officers who distinguished themselves at Malvern: 

We lost the best man in the Regiment when Major Miller 
fell. He it was that led us into the battle of Fair Oaks, after 
Colonel Briggs was wounded, and rallied us so many times. 
He was a father to all, and one of the bravest men who ever 
fell on the battle field. Lieutenant Shurtleff, in command of 
our Company (he is captain now) was wounded in the breast 
and fell, but his mighty strength and spirit sustained him 
for a time. Not daunted bv his wound he remained long with 
his Companv and not until urged did he reluctantlv leave 
the field. 

HARRISON'S LANDING 

Wednesday, July 2d, the Regiment moved just after mid- 
night, from its position back of the batteries, to the place 
where the knapsacks had been stacked and donning them 



July 2. '62 Harrison's Landing 123 

started for James River. The march was accompHshed 
without that order hitherto characteristic of the camipaign, 
every organization seeming intent on reaching its destina- 
tion in the quickest time possible. The Quartermaster had 
left rations under guard a mile or two in rear of the battle 
field with the understanding that the Regiment, as it ap- 
proached, should be informed of the opportunity to fill the 
haversacks. Unfortunately, the entire Regiment except 
Company I, which was on the left, had passed before the mes- 
sage was imparted, so that this Company was the only one 
provided, the remaining companies having to go without for 
two days longer; not having started with a good supply the 
deprivation was all the more grievous. At last the immense 
_wh^at field at Harrison's Landing was reached, a consider- 
able portion of the army having alreadv preceded us there. 
As soon as positions had been assigned, our apologies for 
shelter tents were erected and the Tenth rested in camp. 

The entire Army of the Potomac, or what there was left of 
it. bivouacked in this wheat field in column by division, the 
area covered being scarcely larger than Hampden Park in 
Springfield. The luxuriant growth of wheat in a few hours 
became an extended sea of mud. Absence of rations occa- 
sioned the boys not a little discomfort and some of them 
essayed foraging with results which allayed hunger pangs a 
little. It must be remembered that rain had been falling 
since sunrise and as one of the men expressed it. "The rain 
fell as if it had a deal of raining to do and only a little time 
to do it in." Then, too. the enemy, by way of variety, must 
needs throw a few shells into the camp. As one observing 
fellow expressed it, "I was homesick then. I thought if I 
had to get up and march or fight again, I cared very little 
what became of the Union or myself either, but General 
Kearney took a regiment of lancers that had been around 
headquarters, doing nothing, and told them he was going to 
see what they were made of. Finding a battery of artillery, 
they charged upon it and took about four hundred prisoners; 
that ended the shelling and my homesickness." 



124 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

The first halt was not a long one for on the next day, the 3d, 
the Regiment moved forward about a mile where breastworks 
were thrown up and camp was once more pitched. The ever 
Tnemorable Fourth of July was observed by the Tenth in the 
completion of the line of works, while salutes were fired at 
noon in honor of the day. During the same, General McClellan 
rode through the camp. Several days of quiet camp life 
followed, varied only by the routine of fatigue and other duty. 
The 8th of the month brought a memorable feature in that 
then President Lincoln arrived at the Landing and received 
the customary salutes. Though the day was extremely hot, 
106° in the shade, the President, with Generals McClellan, 
Keyes, Couch and others rode the entire length of our lines, 
receiving everywhere the most enthusiastic cheers. His well 
known regard for the soldiers was fully reciprocated bv them. 
Another item worthy of mention was the towing, by thew 
Monitor, of our old Rebel friend, the gunboat Teaser, down the 
river, she having been run ashore and abandoned by the enemy. 

On the 9th came the muster for pay and the information 
that officers would not be granted leave of absence unless the 
same be to save their lives. Camp life continued in a sober- 
like way, though the scarcity of field officers occasioned com- 
ment, (Captain Lombard of Company F had been in command 
some time) and the lack was temporarily supplied on the 12th 
when Lieut. Col. Xelson Viall, of the Second Rhode Island, was 
temporarily assigned to the command of the Regiment, an 
■event signalized by a cleaning up of camp and quarters and 
followed, on the 13th, by an inspection of arms and accoutre- 
ments by the new commander. Evidently, Colonel Viall 
made an excellent impression, for a large number of the 
officers petitioned Governor Andrew that he would assign 
the Rhode Islander to the permanent command of the Regi- 
ment. With the loth came Asst. Surgeon Jewett who had 
been with the enemy after Malvern, duty holding him with 
the wounded on that day and, as a consequence, he had been 
partaking of Rebel hospitality which he was in no way 
disposed to praise. His instruments were retained by the 



July 19, '62 Harrison's Landing 125 

Confederates, he being told that he could buy plenty more 
when he got back and, besides, his blankets and everything 
capable of exciting Rebel cupidity having been taken, there 
need be no wonder at his dislike of his southern brothers. 

Water, that indispensable adjunct of living, was not plenti- 
ful and the two small springs near the camp did not begin to 
supply the demand. To help out the want a well was dug 
down through the soil and underlying clay, to the depth of 
forty feet. Yankee ingenuity furnished the means of getting 
at the liquid by way of a lot of tangled telegraph wire found 
in a broken-down baggage wagon, the bucket being an ordi- 
nary camp kettle and the windlass being readily hewn out 
of the near-by timber. For the early part of the morning the 
water was clear and cold, but later would get so stirred up that 
it "Was decidedly clayish, thereby entitling the drinker to 
more than his immediate portion of his traditional peck of 
earth. The 19th brought a thorough inspection at the hands 
of Major N. H. Davis of General McClellan's staff, consuming 
a large part of the day. Lieut. Col. Decker, who resigned on 
the 17th, received his discharge and was going home. Captain 
Walkley of Company K, whose resignation went in on the 
11th had already gone. Men who had been in the hospitals 
on account of sickness or wounds were slowly returning. A 
source of luxury in camp was a new milch cow and she got 
her feed for the milk she gave. 

The 20th of the month was Sunday and so quiet was the 
same one might fancy himself at home. Band music came 
faintly to us from the distance, but our own musicians were 
out of the lists on account of losing their instruments, for the 
most part, in the varied life of the past month or more. Black- 
berries abounded and the men picked them in quantities, 
finding them most healthful, while another cow afforded a 
delightful accompaniment to those who could get portions of 
her lacteal product. As Lieutenant Chase of Company K 
had resigned June 20th, officers in that Company were scarce. 
The 26th marked the return to duty of General Devens, who 
was wounded at Fair Oaks and whose place in command of 



126 The Tf:xth Massachusetts; Infaxtry 

the Brigade had been held Viy Gen. I. X. Palmer of Casey's 
Division. The next day. Sunday again, the whole Regiment 
was detailed for picket duty, while Col. Harrison Ritchie of 
Governor Andrew's staff visited the camp to look after the 
welfare of the troops. This was a mission on which he was 
sent by the Commonwealth to all her representatives in the 
service and it was productive of a deal of good. He was also 
commissioned to canvass officers and men as to their prefer- 
ences in the matter of vacancies among the field officers of 
the Tenth, the Regiment having no officer above the rank of 
Captain. News came to the men that day that Major Miller 
had died in Richmond, the 15th, a little more than two weeks 
after his wound at Malvern. 

By the 30th, so inducted were the men to the routine of 
camp, drills were renewed and three times a dav. except 
Saturdays and Sundays, they went out for what would appear "^ 
to some the chief end of a soldier's life. The last day of one 
week and the first of the next were allowed for cleaning up 
and rest. Nor w^ere the pests of summer, viz, f^ies and mos- 
quitoes, lacking; the air was full of them and comfort dis- 
appeared in their presence. At 2.00 p. m. of the 30th, came 
orders to pack up and be readv to move at a moment's warn- 
ing. Rumor w^as again on the wing, this time to the effect 
that a Rebel ram was to make a trial trip down the James and 
that a heavy land force would accompany her. We marched 
to the front and, after a three hours" stav. returned to camp. 
On the last day of July. First Sergt. N. P. A. Blais. Company 
B, died of typhoid fever. He had not been considered in a 
dangerous condition until a few moments before his death. 
His commission as Second Lieutenant, bearing date of June 
21st, w^as received a few hours after his final departure. 

Friday, August 1st, the enemy got active and bringing 
down a battery began a furious shelling of our camps and the 
transports in the river, but the training of a few gunboats on 
the intruders soon sent them scurrying away. The estab- 
lishing of an adequate force across the river on Coggin's Point 
prevented such episodes in the future. August 2d brought the 



Aug. 1, '62 Harrison's Landing 127 

paymaster and likewise the sutler, who seemed to be insep- 
arable companions, the soldiers being only the means of 
transferring or passing the funds from one to the other. 
Captain Parsons of Company C, so seriously wounded at Fair 
Oaks, was just back and his coming was heartily welcomed 
by his men. Matters were beginning to lose some of their 
commonplace character and signs of activity were seen, 
heavy firing being heard on the 5th in the direction of Malvern 
and we were ordered to hold ourselves in readiness to march 
at any moment. At dress parade came the orders to move 
at seven o'clock and, as that hour was only ten minutes off, 
we hurried our very best to obey, but it was half past eight 
before the division was under way. 
" Three o'clock in the morning of the 6th brought the Regi- 
ment to Haxall's where a halt was had for the day. It appears 
from subsequent knowledge that this was an advance under 
the direction of General Hooker, McClellan having been in- 
formed that the enemy was not in force anywhere in his imme- 
diate front. After getting well fixed for the night, at eight 
o'clock came the orders to advance towards Malvern, but 
after two miles' march in that direction we faced about and 
plodded back to our original camp at Harrison's, getting 
there a little before 4.00 a. m., Thursday, the 7th. While 
Hooker was able to burn a quantity of matter collected by the 
enemy and General Averill with his cavalry had driven all 
indications of the foe beyond the White Oak Swamp bridge, 
nothing further came of the expedition. 

This part of Virginia in which the army now finds itself 
is classic in the story of the Old Dominion; Harrison's 
Landing perpetuates the name of a family that gave a Signer 
of the Declaration of Independence and two Presidents of the 
United States, and Berkeley, where W. H. Harrison was born 
was used as a hospital and signal station. On the 9th, a 
portion of the Regiment was doing picket duty at the front, 
with headquarters in the very house in which Thomas Jeffer- 
son was married, January 1, 1772. A Mrs. Clark was the 
chief occupant, her husband and son being in the Confederate 



128 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

service, and with her was a young lady whose home on Mal- 
vern Hill was destroyed during the battle. There was not a 
little pride in the manner of Mrs. Clark as she showed the 
room in which the subsequent framer of the Declaration stood 
by the side of Mrs. Martha Skelton as they were pronounced 
husband and wife. She was a daughter of John Wayles, one 
of the landed aristrocrats of the state, and his death the 
following year, leaving 40,000 acres of farm land and one 
hundred and thirty-five slaves, made Jefferson the richest 
Democrat in the country. All this might not have occurred 
to the young Yankees who inspected the mansion, but they were 
alive to the fact that here and near dwelt many of the famous 
F. F. V.'s and they gazed upon the scene admiringly; at the 
same time no feeling of reverence prevented the cavalrymen 
running ofif with the corn they found on the estate to feed their) , 
famishing horses, and the fact that men would smoke their 
pipes on the piazza filled the heart of the gentle hostess with 
indignation. Still nothing of this sort hindered her sending 
out pillows and spreads to render the officers of the picket 
comfortable at night. 

Though subsequent days were very quiet, yet the loading 
of boats with surplus baggage had every appearance of early 
departure. On the 11th the Regimental Band having been 
mustered out in accordance with G. O. No. 78, they started 
home. The 13th of August marked the election by the 
officers of the Rev. A. J. Bingham of Westfield as Chaplain 
and his commission bore the same date. Another incident of 
the day was the reporting for duty of Asst. Surgeon Albert 
B. Robinson of Holden; he was commissioned on the 9th and 
evidently started at once. The 15th is not only remembered 
as the date of receiving orders to pack up quickly and be 
ready for immediate moving but also as the time when the 
boys played a Yankee trick on the unsuspecting Rebels. Let 
one of the actors tell his own story: 

After packing for the march we had an amusing time making 
effigies for the benefit of the enemy when they came. Some 
were dressed in military style with knapsack and musket 



Aug. 16, '62 Yorktown 129 

and were posted on the breastworks as sentinels. Others 
were mounted on old horses left to die. Wooden cannon, 
mounted, with straw artillerists to man them, some swinging 
from trees by their necks, was a hint to "Jeff" and his leaders. 
So many of' these figures were placed along the lines they 
reaUy held back the advance of the enemy. 

The same writer commenting on the prospective movement 
says, "Here we've been for more than a month building 
redoubts and forts, cutting timber, digging wells forty feet 
deep, and getting camp ready for something like comfort and 
then comes the command to get up and clear out," a sentiment 
probably uttered or at least thought, a milHon times during 
the four years of fighting. 

J YORKTOWN 

With six days' rations, at six o'clock on the morning of the 
16th day of August the Regiment began its retrograde march 
towards Yorktown. Few regrets were expressed over leaving 
the Landing and the neighboring country, there being too 
many memories of fever and malaria incident to its swamps 
and low lying territory. The start was slow on account of 
difficulties in straightening out the baggage train, the troops 
marching further from the river, and thereby serving as guards 
for the train which moved in the most direct manner possible. 
The halt for the night was near Charles City Court House. 
Sunday, the 17th, the retreat continued with the privilege of 
foraging freely on the country. Green corn was abundant; 
apples, peaches and plums, as well as poultry helped to extend 
the rations provided by the Government. Horses and mules 
also became contraband and were useful in bearing the 
burdens of wearied soldiers. At nightfall, the Chickahominy 
River was crossed near its mouth on a pontoon bridge, almost 
half a mile long, and camp was pitched on its eastern shore. 
The march of the 18th took us through Wilhamsburg and the 
battle field of May 5th. Nature was doing her best to erase 
the scars of battle, but little difficulty was had identifying the 
prominent features of the bloody encounter. Sore feet and 
general weariness prevailed on the 19th to the extent that 



130 The Tfath Massachusetts Infantry 

the march was hardly begun before it ended, but the reveille 
at 4.00 a. m. of the 20th started the line at half past five, 
reaching the bank of York River, three miles away, where 
we halted for half an hour, thence going through Yorktown 
and two miles beyond, camping in a peach orchard. 

Here, or in the immediate vicinity, the Tenth was to remain 
for the following ten days. Friday, the 22d, the Regiment 
moved about three-quarters of a mile, close by a spring of 
clear water, always needful, and here also was received the 
first mail in eight days. Just how the' boys improved the 
stay in the vicinity let one of them describe: 

This was a good place for fishing, foraging and bathing. 
It became evident that we were about to leave the Peninsula, 
so what we could find we claimed and confiscated, not wishing 
to leave a straw that would benefit the enemy. The country 
was scoured for miles and well drained of potatoes, fruit, 
fowls, pigs and beef. Many needlessly destroyed property 
and cattle. When I say that cattle were killed in the yard 
of the owner and only the liver and heart taken, I tell the 
truth. It was cruel to do so, but the owners were enemies 
and this was done to show our anger and feelings towards them. 

Captain J. B, Parsons of Company C assumed command of 
the Regiment August 24th, as Lieutenant Colonel, though 
his commission dated from July 15th. Colonel Briggs was 
still absent, having been promoted Brigadier General, and 
his position continued vacant through the month. The troops 
w^ere constantly leaving by land or water, until on the 26th, 
only Couch's and a part of Peck's remained, with Dame Rumor 
more active than ever. During these days a large part of the 
Tenth was engaged in leveling the fortifications about York- 
town and in filling rifle pits, etc. Captain Lombard of Com- 
pany F was sick in the hospital. Captain Ives of Company A 
had gone home on sick leave, and out of thirty commissioned 
officers only thirteen were on dutv. 

The Peninsula Campaign was ended. Beginning with the 
landing at Hampton, March 28th, there had followed five 
months of almost continuous hostility and now, with sadly 
diminished ranks, the Potomac Armv was to re-establish 



Aug. 27, '62 Departure and New Officers 131 

itself very near the place whence it emerged the preceding 
spring. Thousands had fallen in battle, many more had 
died or been discharged through disease, and the plan of 
taking the Confederate Capital from this direction was 
abandoned. Yet after other battles of unparalleled magni- 
tude and fierceness, waged all the way from Fredericksburg 
to Gettysburg, with vastly greater loss of human life, two 
years later the Union armies under Grant were found warring 
with those of Lee over practically the same territory and for 
the same end, the capture of Richmond. McClellan is known 
to have felt sure that the way to the Capital was on the south 
side of the James. Time and Grant proved the correctness 
of his view. Possibly, in the earlier days of the Confederacy 
the resistance to the Federal attack would have been stronger 
and onlv the completely w^orn-out condition of the Confeder- 
ates in 1864-65 rendered their defeat possible. The strict 
religionist will say that not till Confederate strength was 
utterly exhausted did it please the Almighty to render victory 
into Union hands. 

DEPARTURE AND NEW OFFICERS 

Perhaps no personal incident in the history of the Regiment 
was fraught with so much importance to the organization, 
as the commissioning of Dexter F. Parker of Worcester as 
Major in place of Marsh, resigned. His commission was given 
August 12th, and was first brought to the attention of the 
officers by General Devens who had just come back to the 
brigade and had found the notice in a Boston paper. Natu- 
rally, the news came to those interested with a deal of surprise ; 
captains who had faithfully and successfully performed their 
duties viewed the coming into the Major's position of an 
entire stranger with no little aversion. Upon his arrival, 
the 27th, Major Parker called a meeting of the line officers 
in his tent and there told them of his appointment by the 
Governor, and of the deference he expected from them, not- 
withstanding their hostility, for which he was prepared. The 
response received from the officers was in no way calculated 



132 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

to smooth the strained relations henceforth to exist between 
them, since they expHcitly stated that while they were pre- 
pared to observe military courtesy, he was not to construe 
the same as due to personal regard. Rather a frigid reception 
for the officer who, hitherto, had been accustomed to receive 
the respect and plaudits of his Worcester fellow citizens as 
one of the most cherished and esteemed in their midst. Any 
former division of sentiment among these officers was for- 
gotten in their common dislike of the situation in which they 
found themselves, nor did time serve as a healer of the breach 
and the eventual outcome was to be the withdrawal of the 
majority of the officers from the service. 

Of his own sentiments. Captain Newell remarks: 

The appointment of Major Parker was one of those inex- 
plicable circumstances brought about by personal and political 
influences and friendships, through self-appointed guardians 
and meddlers, and the Tenth was not the only regiment from 
Massachusetts that suffered from the same cause. Major 
Parker was, undoubtedly, one of the bravest men of Massa- 
chusetts, and would have done honor to a new regiment, of 
which there were several then forming; but his qualifications 
and excellencies were lost when brought into the Tenth, 
where ninety out of every hundred men in the Regiment 
stood his peer in bravery, and excelled him in all the other 
requirements for the position which he was appointed to fill. 

The following from Schouler's "Massachusetts in the Civil 
War," carries its own explanation: 

"Dexter F. Parker, who had resigned his commissariat to 
go into the line, is highly recommended by General Devens 
for a majorship in the Tenth. Captain Parker said he would 
not go into the Regiment, but on the suggestion that the 
Regiment might get Captain (James J.) Dana for Colonel, 
Parker said that in such a case he would be too glad to go 
into it; that he knew Dana well, and considered him one of 
the entirely honest and reliable men and gentlemen in the 
quartermaster's department." 

The words in quotation marks were those of Colonel Ritchie 
of the Governor's staff in his report and would appear to 
implicate General Devens in the appointment of Major Parker 
and it would have been strange if an officer as well acquainted 



Aug. 29, '62 Alexandria 133 

with Parker as the General was, having been associated with 
him, in many ways, during several years of Worcester 
acquaintance should not improve the opportunity to help 
advance an old friend. 

The same officer. Colonel Ritchie, in his report states that 
the Tenth Regiment desired to have an army officer in place 
of Colonel Briggs, wounded and promoted brigadier general, 
and the commission of Henry L. Eustis, a West Point graduate, 
though long a professor in the Lawrence Scientific School, 
was already written. He was not exactly of the active army 
but he certainly had all the requirements for his position. 
Dated August 15th, the new Colonel did not present himself 
until the Regiment reached Alexandria. Notwithstanding 
the prospect of early leaving, the side occupation of digging 
was kept up while orders were received for the maintaining 
of three days' cooked rations against the arrival of daily 
expected transports, though no one knew aught of the desti- 
nation of the Regiment. 

ALEXANDRIA 

Friday, the 29th, saw the much expected change, in that, 
after packing up at 6.30 a. m. and marching through York- 
town, there was a rest until 6.00 p. m. when all, bag and bag- 
gage, went on board the Key West, a new screw-steamer in 
Government service. The following day, after the embarka- 
tion of the remainder of the brigade, having in tow a barque 
containing the Seventh Massachusetts, the start by water 
was made at noon. The last day of the month beheld the 
procession, moving very slowly, entering the Potomac River 
at about daylight. The Government pilot, taken on board at 
Yorktown, was striken with apoplexy and lay unconscious in 
a stateroom. Darkness brought the third trip of the Tenth 
on the Potomac to an end and at anchor off the wharfs of 
Alexandria. 

With the first day of September came variety enough to 
fully offset the sameness of the late water trip. Leaving the 
steamer in the forenoon, the Regiment bivouacked till after- 



134 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

noon near the landing and then, under orders, started for 
Fairfax Court House to have a part in the campaign of 
General John Pope, who having proclaimed his headquarters 
in the saddle, was in sore need of fresh troops. Accompanied 
by the customary rain storm, and dividing the roadway with 
Pope's great baggage train, which was hurrying towards 
Alexandria, we picked our course as best we could. There 
was heavv firing towards the west which proved to be at the 
battle of Chantilly, in which fell Generals Phil. Kearney and 
I. I. Stevens, the latter a Masachusetts man. Perhaps nine 
miles had been marched, when, towards midnight, came 
pressing orders to hurry forward; and at the same time came 
express directions to return to Alexandria. Obedience to both 
orders being impossible, it was deemed best to remain where 
we were, securing such rest as possible under the circumstances. 
Earlier in the day, finding the camp of the 34th Massachusetts 
near, certain of the men from Spencer improved the oppor- 
tunity to exchange greetings with old friends from the same 
hilltop town, they having left home fully a year later than 
those of the Tenth. 

On the 2d, definite orders came to return to Alexandria, 
whither we went, encamping near Fairfax Seminary, but 
only briefly, since we were soon ordered to Chain Bridge. 
Unfortunately the Regiment was guided to Ball's Cross 
Roads, fully nine miles out, reaching there about ten o'cock 
at night and, footsore and weary, there lay down to rest. 
The 3d, by starting early, eft'orts were made to repair the 
fault of the preceding day and Chain Bridge was reached just 
before noon. There we camped, just where we were six months 
before, when we essayed our mud march into Virginia. On this 
day also. Colonel Eustis, who found the Regiment in Alex- 
andria, assumed command. The day was signalized, more- 
over, by a dress parade which was observed with absorbing 
interest by certain new regiments, just down from the North. 
However much we might burnish up what regimentals we 
possessed, we could not overcome certain lackings, painfully 
apparent; thus fifteen men had to appear in their drawers, 



Sept. 5, '62 Northward 135 

minus trousers, and twenty were barefoot, but the deficiencies 
did not prevent all handling their guns in a manner to draw 
enthusiastic applause from the white-gloved soldierv to whom 
the realities of war were yet unknown. With so much moving 
about, rations had become scarce and hunger, under the very 
dome of the Capitol, became a possibility. 

Rations were drawn from Fort Ethan Allen on the 5th, and 
at 4.00 p. m., crossing the Chain Bridge, we marched through 
Tenallytown towards Poolesville, camping in a meadow, 
about nine miles out. Starting the next morning before 
breakfast we marched only a short distance. On the 7th a 
patrol from the Tenth was sent out to pick up stragglers, 
while the 9th brought the Regiment to Seneca Falls, on the 
Maryland side of the Potomac. Poolesville was passed on 
the 11th and on the 12th Lieut. Col. Parsons was attacked 
by a fever and left at Barnes ville as we passed through. Two 
days later, after fording the Monocacy River in the morning, 
we were near Sugar Loaf mountain. Heavy cannonading 
was heard up the river, this being the attack of Stonewall 
Jackson on Harper's Ferry which resulted later in the sur- 
render of the place. Sunday, the 14th, after a march of fifteen 
miles, we were in sight of Burkittsville at about noon. Higher 
up, in Crampton's Pass of South Mountain, Confederate Gen. 
Howell Cobb, with three brigades of Georgians, was trying to 
hold the pass against the combined forces of Slocum and W. 
F. Smith. It was the privilege of the Tenth to see others go 
in and win a glorious victory. We could follow the Federal 
advance, see the enemy sturdily resist till the Union forces 
were almost within touching distance when the Rebels broke 
and ran, to be cut down as they fled. This opposition of the 
Confederates was made to prevent our forces trying to raise 
the siege of Harper's Ferry and the delay was sufficient, for 
before aid could reach the beleagured garrison, Colonel D. S. 
Miles had surrendered the place with all its armament and 
troops, the most disheartening event of the kind during the 
entire course of the war. 

Our Regiment got away very early on the morning of the 



136 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

15th and marched to the sound of the enemy's guns which 
kept up a furious cannonading until about 8.00 a. m., 
when they suddenly ceased, the reason soon appearing in the 
news that the white flag had done its work and more than 
three score cannon, 13,000 stand of small arms, 200 wagons, 
and fully 12,000 soldiers had been passed into the hands of 
the enemy. It took many a day to reinspirit the North after 
the Harper's Ferry disaster, while the captured and paroled 
prisoners never ceased to lament the ill fortune which so 
suddenly nipped their martial aspirations. 

ANTIETAM 

The bloodiest single day's fight of the entire war has no 
place on the battle roll of the Tenth, but it was through no 
fault of officers or men. Ordered to the relief of Harper's 
Ferry, we have seen the Regiment on its way thither, reaching 
Sandy Hook, about a mile from the Ferry, when orders came 
for us to about face and march with all speed to Antietam, 
whose battle roar had been in our ears all the day. Notwith- 
standing every possible effort, the distance was too great to 
be overcome before the fight was over, though much of their 
march had been at double quick and, reaching the field at 
dark, the men threw themselves on the ground and waited 
for daylight. The morning of the 18th found the Regiment 
in position on the right in the front line and awaiting the 
onslaught. This the enemy did not appear inclined to make 
and, save for the firing on the skirmish line, the day was 
quiet, in the afternoon there being a suspension of hostilities 
for the removal of wounded and burial of the dead. In momen- 
tary expectation of a renewal of the great battle, the Union 
line held itself in readiness for the attack which did not come. 
By the morrow the battle would begin again, everyone be- 
lieved, but the morning of the 19th revealed the surprising 
fact that during the night the enemy had quietly "folded his 
tents like the Arab and as silently stolen away," leaving his 
dead and wounded in our hands. 



Sept. 17, '62 Antiet.vm 137 

Wonder and curiosity mingled in the emotions of the Union 
Army as the truth became known and, naturally, many crossed 
over to the late camping ground of the enemy to see what it 
was like. A sudden halt was suggested when a whizzing shell 
passed over the hjeads of certain scouts of the Tenth and 
struck some distance in the rear of the regiments near a num- 
ber of recruits who, under the conduct of Lieut. G. W. Bigelow 
of Company F, had just arrived. The shell, however, was the 
last token from the retiring foe who was then crossing the 
river at Sharpsburg. The new men had been forwarded 
without arms or accoutrements and they could not have come 
up at a more opportune moment, so far as a complete outfit 
was concerned. The field was strewn with everything that 
they needed and all anyone had to do was to walk about and 
help himself. But what an introduction to the embryo 
soldier that terrible field of Antietam must have been! Had 
he cherished any delusive fancy as to the romance of war, 
the rapidly swelling bodies of lately active, thinking men 
must have reduced him to the hardpan of solid facts with 
sickening haste. 

It was about noon when column was formed and the pursuit 
began, passing soon through the village of Sharpsburg, the 
source of the Confederate name for the great battle, while 
the Union appellation comes from Antietam creek, over whose 
waters stood the bridge, to be known thereafter as Burnside's. 
The hamlet showed the marks of battle in no mistaken form. 
Scarcely a house had escaped, the poor inhabitants having 
taken refuge in their cellars during the engagement. Now 
they came forth to hail the Yankees with every expression 
of joy and fealty, exhibiting the portraits of McClellan as 
those of a liberator while the soldiers themselves lost no 
opportunity to cheer to the echo any appearance of their 
favorite leader. The passage of the troops through Sharps- 
burg presented a scene not often witnessed. Marching by 
fours, three regiments abreast, filling the street from curb to 
curb, all at right shoulder-shift and with bayonets fixed, the 
bright sun shining on glistening steel and the refulgent gold 



138 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

of the flags, everything combined to make a picture of human 
magnificence never equalled before. 

A little way beyond the town, a halt was ordered and camp 
was pitched, but before midnight we were roused with orders 
to hasten to Williamsport to prevent the recrossing of the 
river by the enemy, but when five miles from our destination, 
we learned that the crossing had already been effected and 
that the town was occupied in force, so we halted for the 
remainder of the Division to come up. Here the 20th found 
us, and at dusk we advanced, driving in the skirmishers of 
the enemy, while their line of battle fell back and recrossed 
the river, shelling us furiously from their vantage ground, 
but as we judiciously retired, we were soon out of range of 
their missiles. To show how the serious and the fanciful in 
life are mingled this characteristic incident finds place among 
those of that busy day: "We found a nice field of potatoes 
near where we were in line and, as we were very fond of new 
potatoes, we thought we would take a few. As there were a 
good many of us and not a very large field of potatoes, I am 
afraid the man who owned the field did not get a great many 
of them." 

During the 21st and 22d, the Regiment encamped and 
rested, the foe having departed from the immediate vicinity. 
On the 23d we moved about two and a half miles nearer 
Downsville and the next day again approached said village 
a quarter of a mile. The 25th was a significant day since then 
we mustered for pay, and pay certainly was needed. The men 
were in a woeful plight in the line of clothing. Many were 
shoeless and shirtless and the officers not much better. For 
almost a month this place was to be the camp home of the 
Tenth and if the men had only known the future, they might 
have made themselves much more comfortable than they 
were; at the same time they found the vicinity very well 
supplied with the necessities and many of the luxuries of life. 
It was at this camp that the resignations of certain officers 
were tendered to Colonel Eustis. The date, Sept. 27th, made 
a life-long impression on the minds of all concerned. 



Sept. 27, '62 Officers Resign 139 

OFFICERS RESIGN 

Almost half a century intervenes between that parade 
occasion on the afternoon of the day itself, and as long as 
they lived not one of the officers directly interested could 
forget, for an instant, the impression made when the Colonel, 
at said parade, stated that he had received but had not for- 
warded the papers, hoping that on second thought, the officers 
would withdraw them. How many a heartache had been 
prevented had some good angel whispered compliance to these 
men, but their grievance, to them, was of too serious a character 
to admit of any deflection from the course decided upon. 
It will be remembered that when Major Dexter F. Parker was 
commissioned in the Regiment he was not received with that 
enthusiasm which he may have hoped to experience, and his 
presence was tolerated rather than enjoyed. Biding their 
time until, as they thought, the accusation of resigning in 
the face of the enemy could not apply, thev sent in their 
papers together, a very serious blunder, unless they were 
anxious for trouble. Captain Newell, whose annals of the 
Regiment have been so generally read, tells the story thus 
for the 27th, which, it will be observed, was just ten days 
after Antietam: 

That day eleven officers of the Regiment tendered their 
resignations, feeling aggrieved at the appointment of Dexter 
F. Parker to the position of Major of the Regiment, this being 
the first opportunity since the Major's appearance on the 
stage, when the Regiment might be said not to be in "the 
face of the enemy." Captain Newell's was the first, quickly 
followed by Clapp's, Traver's, and Pierce's, and all of the 
lieutenants except three, and one of those wrote his, but being 
detailed for picket duty, did not have time to send it in, and 
upon his return to camp finding nearly all the officers under 
arrest, wisely tore up his resignation, and escaped the troubles 
and tribulations that followed. The officers who resigned 
were Captains Thomas W. Clapp (D), George Pierce (G), 
Samuel C. Traver (B), Joseph K. Newell, (I); Lieutenants 
Hiram A. Keith (Adjt.), Joseph H. Bennett (I), Lorenzo M. 
Remington (G), George E. Hagar (D), Henry E. Crane (F), 
Edwin E. Moore (G), and James Knox (I). Lieutenants 



140 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

Charles Wheeler and David W. Wells being entitled to a dis- 
charge, from wounds honorably received in the service, 
applied and received their discharge through the medical 
department. 

At the evening dress parade, Colonel Eustis informed the 
officers that he had received the resignations sent in, but he 
had not forwarded them, and would hold them over until the 
next morning, trusting that before that time they would be 
withdrawn by the writers. He also cautioned the officers that 
they were violating the seventh article of war, and in case of 
their persisting in the matter, they must suffer the conse- 
quences. 

On Sunday, Sept. 28th, the officers whose resignations were 
sent in were all ordered under arrest, and their swords gath- 
ered up by the Adjutant, Keith, and deposited at headquarters, 
after which his own was added to the pile, and the first act 
in the drama of petty spite and tyranny inaugurated at 
brigade headquarters was consummated. At the request of 
the Brigade Commander, General Devens, through whose 
in^iience Major Parker ivas appointed to the Tenth, a court- 
martial was ordered, of ivhich he was appointed the presiding 
officer, to try the officers who had tendered their resignations, 
on charges of which he (General Devens) had previously 
certified in ivriting, over his own signature, that he had every 
reason to believe they were guilty. 

General Devens made the following endorsement on the 
back of Captain Newell's resignation; 

The General commanding the brigade regrets deeply that he is 
obliged to bring to the notice of the General commanding the di\'ision, 
that there is no reason to doubt that these resignations, bearing the 
same date, and couched in substantially the same language, are the 
result of a combination against Major Parker, of the Tenth Massachu- 
setts Volunteers, a brave and valuable officer appointed by the lawful 
authority, and who, so far as known, has proved himself every way 
worthy of the appointment. Such a combination cannot be considered 
otherwise than a sedition, intended to destroy the efficiency of the 
Regiment, unless the appointment of major can be dictated by these 
officers, to the Executive of Massachusetts, in whom it has been 
lodged by the laws of the United States. It is well known to these 
officers, who speak of Major Parker as a "civilian," as he is termed in 
some of these papers, and an "outsider," that Major Parker has 
been longer in the service of the United States than any of them; that 
he entered it with the Sixth Regiment, the first that left the State of 
Massachusetts; that he has been continuously in that service, until a 
very short time before his appointment of Major, and that 
then, as Assistant Quartermaster of the United States, he rendered 
most efficient service in the field in several of the battles of 
the peninsula. 



Oct. 1, '62 Downsville 141 

Not one of these officers, tendering their resignation, was by any 
rule of seniority entitled to the position of major, and all have been 
warned of the aspect in which such a combination must be regarded. 
Under these circumstances, it seems impossible to pass over the 
matter by a simple disapproval of the resignations enclosed, and the 
General commanding the brigade respectfully recommends that the 
officers, or at least the senior officers, whose resignations are forwarded, 
may be dismissed the service, or may be brought before a court-martial, 
as may be deemed most suitable. 

Signed, 

Charles Devens, Jr., 
Brigadier General Commanding Brigade 

Is it not a little singular that so considerable a defection on 
the part of the officers made so little impression on the enhsted 
men, for not one of them, whose letters and diaries are in 
existence, made any mention of the matter, yet the remarks 
of the Colonel at parade must have been heard by all. 

DOWNSVILLE 

A reorganization of the several army corps having been 
made, the first of October found the Tenth Regiment a por- 
tion of the Sixth Corps, the brigade having been transferred, 
and all were under the command of Major General Wm. B. 
Franklin, and a sharer of the fortunes of the Sixth the Regi- 
ment continued until the end of its service. The real mission 
of the soldier, viz, drill, began again and the men found their 
new Colonel, with his long West Point experience, an excellent 
drill master. Farmers in the vicinity were x-ealizing the advan- 
tage of a home market and many of them visited the camp 
regularly with products of their homes and farms for sale. In 
this way, though at some extra cost, the soldier was able to 
substitute soft bread for hard-tack and butter once more be- 
came a possibility, though the increased demand for that 
luxury of civilization soon sent the price from eighteen cents, 
what it cost when the camp was pitched, to half a dollar per 
pound, and a ten cent loaf of bread soon cost two and a half 
times that. Fortunately no considerations of political or 
domestic economy prevented the boys eating all their money 
would permit. New sweet cider, too, had a most decided home 
flavor and was freely indulged in to the manifest improvement 



142 The Tenth Massachusetts Ixfantry 

of many who had suffered from ailments incident to the time 
and locaHty. 

That same first day of October is memorable in that then 
President Lincoln made his second visit to General McClellan 
in the field. He was at Harrison's Landing, and now came 
again to see his soldiers after their terrible test at Antietam. 
It was during this visit that the famous photograph was taken 
by Brady, wherein he is shown surrounded by a large number 
of officers who were slowly attaining national fame. While 
he was with the General, the President went over the fields of 
Antietam and South Mountain and beheld many parades of 
the troops, in one of which the Tenth participated, drawing 
from a youthful scribe the entry, "We were reviewed by 
President Lincoln, General McClellan and General Franklin." 
On the 5th came the 37th Massachusetts, a new regiment 
under the command of the late Adjutant of the Tenth, Oliver 
Edwards, and joining the brigade, the regiment was a near 
neighbor and friend as long as it remained in the service, the 
recruits and re-enlisted men of the older organization being 
transferred to the o7th when their own bodv was mustered out. 
The clean and bright uniforms of the new men were in glitter- 
ing contrast with the soiled and torn garments worn by the 
older soldiers. 

Under this same date, the 5th, mention is made of the prog- 
ress of the court-martial before which were ordered the officers 
who had tendered their resignations. It was held in a small 
building, up to this time used for both school and chapel 
purposes, and to these uses was now added that of court room. 
It was situated near the camp and was presided over by 
General Devens and it would be hard to convince the men 
chiefly concerned that it was not organized to convict. To 
the enlisted men the days were passing quietly and pleasantly, 
varied by light guard duty, drills and inspections. With the 
10th, came marching orders requiring two days rations and 
preparation to start at once without knapsacks. The latter 
order was soon countermanded, the scare having arisen from 
a brush between certain lines of pickets and possibly Stuart's 



Oct. 14. '62 Downsville 143 

Chambersburg raid then on. The 14th made a deep impres- 
sion on nearly everyone in the Regiment for then came four 
great loads of express matter from home and he was a very 
unlucky fellow who was not remembered in some way. Said 
one boy, "I had a box from mother, the stuff being the most 
of it in good order — a jar of jelly was broken and a cake was 
somewhat mouldy. The rest was all right. The Spencer 
folks sent a box for the hospital, but there was a great deal 
more than was wanted there, so it was divided by lots among 
the Spencer boys. I drew a pair of socks, two handkerchiefs, 
two towels, a bottle of cider wine and a jar of currant jelly." 
If all the boys from that hilltop town fared as well, we must 
conclude that the box was hberal in both size and contents. 

The next day brought marching orders but they were 
countermanded. Again, the 18th, came directions to be ready 
to start in hght marching order with three days' rations and 
at a minute's notice. Being used to similar commands, the 
Regiment was not particularly startled; it was, however, 
readv for the word when it actually came and in a twinkling 
the men were in Hne and prepared for the march which began 
just before dark. After passing through Downsville, Wil- 
Hamsport and Clear Springs, Maryland, at about 1.30 a. m. 
of the 19th, we halted in a corn field just beyond the latter 
place. The corn, cut and shocked, was soon distributed 
among the tired soldiers, affording them comfortable beds till 
the coming of the morn. The farmer who owned the field 
rode through the camp in the morning, and viewed the situa- 
tion with more good nature than might be expected under 
the circumstances. His most memorable comment was that 
he wished the boys would husk the corn since they had pulled 
it down. 

At seven o'clock we were off and marched to Hancock 
where there was a ford of the Potomac, on the way passing 
through Fair View, Indian Springs and Pond Point. The 
country being mountainous, the views from the heights, em- 
bracing the river and a wide extent of territory, were grand 
and beautiful. Hagerstown, so often named in the stories 



144 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

of the war, was twenty miles away and signaling was in con- 
stant evidence, the station near us being in charge of Lieut. 
William F. Barrett of Springfield, formerly of the 27th Massa- 
chusetts. Beyond the river appeared the camps of the 
enemy, while near us were the lines of our own forces on the 
march. Reaching Hancock a little before sunset, we halted 
in a field owned by Samuel Bowles, not, it is safe to say, the 
famous newspaper man of Springfield. The village was not 
a large one, having seven or eight hundred inhabitants and 
enjoyed the credit of being the place where Stuart crossed 
the river on his famous raid into Pennsylvania a week before, 
though, as a matter of fact, the crossing was at Cherry Run 
Ford, eleven miles further down the stream.* 

Just after midnight of the 20th, we were ordered to Cherry 
Run which was reached about sunrise on the 21st. Here we 
resumed the knapsacks and baggage left at Downsville when 
we started off "in light order" and also picked up the sick 
and others who had failed to keep up. The impression was 
that the Corps had been sent on this march to prevent a second 
Rebel invasion of Pennsylvania, in a measure suggested by 
Stuart's raid. The advancing season was indicated by the 
cold nights and the camping outfit was hardly equal to the 
demand. To ford the waters of the Potomac, even though they 
were only knee deep was not a pleasant task for those men 
who, on the 22d, had to go on picket. An eighth of a mile wide 
they said the river was, and the foot bath was not a source of 
comfort. From the direction of Hedgesville, the cavalry 
brought in a party of Rebel prisoners, some twenty or more 
in number. 

On the 23d we were called out at 3.00 a. m., our pickets were 
drawn in and we were ordered to march at daybreak. Obey- 
ing and marching out to the turnpike, we halted there all day, 
returning to the camp at night. Jarvis Taylor of Company A 
died in an ambulance on the road and was buried by the 
roadside. Were it not for the ever increasing cold the few 



*Stuart himself says, " McCoy's Ferry," in his account of the Cham- 
bersburo; Raid. This was his second ride around the Union Army. 



Oct. 29, '62 Downsville 145 

days' stop at Cherry Run had been very enjoyable; as it was, 
we managed to hve through them, though shelter tents were 
hardly the thing for such nights as were common, especially 
when joined with heavy rains. Even the blankets received 
from Downsville did not keep us so warm and dry but that 
the tents were abandoned and, by the side of camp fires, we 
alternately froze and roasted as we turned before the blaze. 
Off again on the 27th, starting at 8.00 a. m., we marched 
through Clear Springs to Williamsport where we halted for 
two days. Here we were camped in a beautiful grove of tall 
oaks, a large number of which were cut down in the process 
of camp making, much to the disgust of the owner w^ho 
declared that the Government would have to pay him a 
thousand dollars for every tree destroyed. 
"Back we went on the 29th, to our old camp at Downsville 
which was found as we left it, and here we awaited further 
orders. Just before starting. Major Parker's favorite horse, 
"Tommy," becoming restive under the load of camp equip- 
ment which had been placed upon and around the saddle, 
started off on a run, nor did he stop until he had rid himself 
of the last kettle and stewpan. The merriment of the men in 
no way lessened the disgust of the officer, who picked up his 
scattered utensils as best he could, and found some other w^ay 
of transporting them. During the halt here of one day, 
muster rolls were prepared, the court-martial for the resigned 
officers progressed and some Quartermaster's stores were dis- 
tributed, though the men were still very much in need of 
shoes and clothing. Some would have liked to know what 
the ten days' trip had amounted to, above an object lesson 
of Washington county geography, with actual observation 
of the river fords at Williamsport, Cherry Run and Hancock 
and the excellent breaking in that the new 37th Massachusetts 
had. The boys of the latter organization thought we were 
pacing them as a trial of their speed, but they found out that 
it was the regular step of the brigade and that they were com- 
ing on finely. Nothing could be more cordial than the rela- 
tions between the two regiments, and well they might be, 



146 The Tenth MASSACHrsExrs Infantry 

since we were from the same section of the state and did not 
Colonel Edwards get his first lessons among the men of the 
Tenth r 

On that day, viz, Oct. 30th, there appeared in the Spring- 
field Republican an extended article signed "G. W.," evidently 
George Walker of Springfield, a personal and political friend 
of Major Parker, in which he set forth at great length the 
merits of the latter, obviously written to offset the influence 
of a late article in the Republican in a way exculpating the 
ofBcers who had resigned, and referring to the Major as an 
appointee from civil life. Naturally, when the paper reached 
the Regiment it excited no little comment and criticism. 
The road was again taken on the 31st, leaving Downsville 
in the morning, and after marching twelve miles we arrived at 
Rhorersville, where we camped for the night, and where we 
also mustered for pay. 

November began for us at three in the morning, when we 
were off, passing the battle field of South Mountain, and 
halting in Berlin at noon. Said place is about six miles below 
Harper's Ferry on the Maryland side of the Potomac. The 
good bridge which once spanned the river here, the Rebels 
destroyed at the beginning of the war. We were camped on 
a steep hillside, a good position when reached, and some of 
the most ragged of the men were comforted by the distribu- 
tion of clothing. The second day, we were ordered to pack up, 
but the long baggage trains having to cross on a very light 
pontoon bridge, night found us still in the same camp. For a 
delightful change the day was quite warm. The third day 
noted the return of the Regiment to Virginia and the mud 
we were soon floundering in seemed altogether natural. 
Burnside had just preceded us on the pontoon bridge which 
bore us over to "Ole Virginny" shore. After marching about 
ten miles in a southeasterly course we found a comfortable 
camp in the woods. 

There was music in the air on the 4th, since during nearly 
all that day Pleasanton and Stuart were waging a running 
fight, one of those encounters in which there was a great deal 



Nov. 6, '62 White Plains 147 

of noise and very little bloodshed; indeed, in all of the day's 
dissonance there was just one man killed and four wounded. 
The 5th, we left Union and after marching six or seven miles 
encamped for the night, and here happened one of those inci- 
dents of army life where inherent human nature is shown at 
its best or worst ; let Sargent of Company K tell the story : 

>^ Well, we got rid of going on picket and it happened this 
way. There was a long fence near where we stopped for the 
night and soldiers always like to find a good dry fence, the 
rails'make such a beautiful fire to cook coffee by. Well, the 
Second Rhode Island and the 37th Massachusetts got into 
trouble over the fence and from words they came to blows 
and had quite a little time for a while. Our Regiment had 
just got started for picket when the General sent for us to 
come back and sent the Second Rhode Island instead to 
pay for fighting. 

Marching was resumed early on the 6th, and leaving the 
principal roads we traveled by wood roads and cart paths 
where only thin lines were possible, and after sixteen or seven- 
teen miles we reached White Plains. During one of the halts 
on_.the march was seen one of the horse play incidents, very 
funny to the boys but vexatious enough to the victims. We 
were near a house whose occupants were evidently of the 
''secesh" order and that of an exceedingly virulent type. 
They had no disposition to sell any of their farm products but 
if the}' did, it must be for gold, silver or Confederate script. 
Whatever men folks the precincts possessed were conspicu- 
ously silent, but not so the women, who were prompt and 
emphatic in their opinions and expressions. It was a very 
natural thing that hungry soldiers and possible poultry soon 
neared each other, to the manifest delight of the soldiery and 
the equally evident disgust of the women, who shouted, cried, 
and even swore at the marauding men in blue. The provost 
marshal was ordered up, but somehow his protection was not 
very effectual and it is even reported that chicken graced the 
table of said officer that very night. The termagant wife of 
the household clinched some of her remarks with the throwing 
of stones and one man of the Tenth had his jaw almost broken 



148 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

by the virago, but the blood streaming from his wound 
excited only the derision of his comrades, who had their 
opinion of any man who could thus be wounded at the hands 
of a paleface squaw. 

Camp was pitched at about 3.00 p. m. and just before dark, 
in searching for water, these inquisitive Yankees found a large 
flock of sheep in a cleared field, evidently placed there with the 
hope that they might escape the eyes of marauding soldiers. 
It was not to be, for the slaughter began at once. The smell of 
of blood soon brought other men to the scene and in a very brief 
time there was nothing of that flock left except their pelts. 
Though some of the men found a whiskey distillery near and 
others found certain hogs which were exceedingly tasty, and 
though the camp may have had some other designation, the 
prevalence of sheep while here forever fixed it in the memories of 
the boys themselves as "Camp Mutton." Perhaps no such general 
carnival ever was participated in by officers as well as men. 
Though the irate owners hastened to headquarters to com- 
plain and though orders emanated thence to cease the slaugh- 
ter, it was too late, for the work had been done. It is said that 
some companies of the Tenth had as many as ten sheep on 
the coals at one time; the odor thereof filled the air and a 
man coming over from the camp of the 37th, eating from a 
full leg of lamb, said that Colonel Edwards had ordered all 
of his men to grease their guns with mutton tallow. For the 
first time in three months a train of cars was run up from 
Alexandria. 

The Regiment remained at White Plains until the 9th, in 
the interval witnessing a heavy fall of snow and also experi- 
encing some pangs of hunger, since the supply of mutton was 
exhausted and hard-tack had given out. The Sixth Corps 
baggage train had been mixed up with that of the Fifth and 
confusion resulted. While some of the odds and ends, like 
salt-pork and cofifee were distributed, the men longed for the 
real staflf of life and they made the Quartermaster's life miser- 
able for a few days as they shouted "Hard-tack," whenever 
he appeared in sight. On the 9th, the Regiment moved to 



Nov. 7, '62 White Plains 149 

New Baltimore, five miles from Warrenton, and encamped. 
Two crackers per man were issued just before starting and 
after reaching camp a few more were given out, but there was 
no sugar for coffee and no prospect of immediate improve- 
ment. At White Plains some evilly disposed person stole 
Captain Bigelow's trunk, containing his silver-mounted 
revolver and other articles of value, and though the trunk was 
found it had been thoroughly rifled. Notice reached us that 
Captain Lombard had resigned Nov. 2d, on account of ill 
health. 

While our Regiment had been marching and countermarch- 
ing over Virginia's "sacred soil," it was one of the pawns in the 
new movement, projected by McClellan to overcome the enemy, 
viz, to march southward and westward and, by interposing his 
army between the severed divisions of the Confederates, to fight 
the latter in detail. However, his well-laid plans were doomed, 
for on the 5th President Lincoln had relieved him from the 
command of the Army of the Potomac and named Burnside 
as his successor. It was in the midst of the severe snowstorm 
of the 7th that Gen. C. P. Buckingham, Secretary Stanton's 
Adjutant, arrived post-haste from Washington and delivered 
to McClellan the paper which ended his military career. By 
a strange freak of fortune, Burnside was present when the 
despatch came, and it was at once passed over to him, he being 
as much surprised as McClellan himself. Of this event 
Swinton in his story of the Army of the Potomac says : 

The moment chosen was an inopportune and an ungracious 
one; for never had McClellan acted with such vigor and 
rapidity — never had he shown so much confidence in himself 
or the army with him. And it is a notable fact that not only 
was the whole body of the anny — rank and file as well as 
officers — enthusiastic in their affection for his person, but that 
the very General appointed as his successor was the strongest 
opponent of his removal. 

Nov. 7th, Colonel Eustis stated that there were only five 
line officers on duty and he urged the necessity of promotion. 
Of course the officers who had proffered their resignations 
were present but were not eligible for service of any kind. It 



150 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

was on the 9th that the former and present commanders rode 
through the camp. The reception accorded the departing 
officer was warm in the extreme, for personally he was the 
most lovable of men, and the soldiers knew nothing of the 
politics of the war. It was here also that three or four men 
from each company were transferred to the regular artillery 
service. The most of those who went from the Tenth were 
attached to Butler's Second U.S. Artillery. While at Warren- 
ton, General Couch, so long in command of the Third Division, 
succeeded Gen. E. V. Sumner as commander of the Second 
Corps and Gen. John Newton was Couch's successor. There 
being direct communication with Alexandria by rail, we were 
getting supplies regularly. The people were thoroughly Rebel 
in their sympathies and one little girl proclaimed her dislike 
of the Yankees because, as she said, "They brought the cold 
weather." Our camp was on a very steep hillside whence 
the view was grand, particularly in the night, when the sight 
of the valley filled with camp fires suggested thoughts which 
were Mrs. Julia Ward Howe's when she wrote: 
"I have seen Him in the watch fires of a hundred circling camps." 
On the 14th came a much needed supply of overcoats and 
blankets, thus lessening somewhat the rigors of winter. Not 
always did the mail bring pleasure to the recipient, for it was 
here, Nov. 9th, that Myron Walker, the "drummer-boy," 
received the sad news of the sudden death of his father. With 
his boyish heart bowed down, the youngest member of the 
Regiment was the object of unlimited sympathy from the 
older comrades who did all that men could do for their friend 
in grief. For a week the Regiment continued at New Balti- 
more. On the 14th the long drawn out trial of the officers who 
had resigned, or tried to, on the 27th of September, came to 
an end. The chief contest was made over the case of Captain 
Newell, who was tried first. It was agreed that the decision 
in one case should be the same for all, but the form of trial 
was had for each one. When the case of Captain Pierce, No. 3 
in the list, was on, it was discovered that General Devens's 
endorsement on Captain Newell's resignation had prejudged 



Nov. 18, '62 Stafford Court House 151 

the case, and on being challenged, the General promptly 
resigned, his place being taken by Col. Frank Wheaton of the 
Second Rhode Island. The papers in the case were sent up 
for approval, and another wait ensued. 

Once more the army was on the move, leaving New Balti- 
more on the 16th at 9.30 a. m., marching towards Catlett's 
Station on the Orange and Alexandria railroad, stopping 
finally about three miles beyond the station, having put 
fifteen miles between us and our starting place. The next 
day we added fifteen miles more to the story of the day before, 
being on the road to Fredericksburg, and halted for the night 
in a big piece of pine woods. The 18th saw us out and going 
at 6.30 a. m. with Stafford Court House as our goal, but we 
stopped three miles short of it, though we paced off ten good 
miles of marching. Rations, too, were short, as was too 
often the case when on the march, usually starting with three 
days' needs which the men were wont to consume in two, thus 
going hungry on the third day. The camping place, at first 
deemed exceedingly fine, under the effect of continued rain 
soon became like so many other camps, just a vast expanse 
of mud. 

A careful note taker said the camp was twelve miles from 
Fredericksburg, five from Aquia Creek and about one from 
the Potomac. Wagons were dispatched to the creek for 
supplies which came up in abundance on the 21st, but tobacco 
was now lacking from the seeming necessities of the men. 
Some, in their extremity, smoked moss taken from the trees, 
others tried coffee, the odor of which was proclaimed really 
agreeable. The sutler had not been careful enough in follow- 
ing up the Regiment, hence the failure of the soldiers in getting 
their accustomed supply of the weed. When he did arrive, 
the boys raided him, to teach him a lesson for not coming 
sooner. These northern boys were being inducted into the 
peculiarities of the persimmon, a fruit the most excellent of 
its kind after a frost, but until that time, sure to pucker the 
lips beyond all compare. In their recent hungry state, many 
a man was thankful for even persimmons. To be on picket 



152 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

was the lot of the entire Regiment on the 22d, and there was 
Httle of variety, though all were wondering what they would 
have to eat at Thanksgiving, which was then in sight. 

For the 25th, there is a record of a battahon drill under 
Major Parker in the afternoon. For some reason matters 
became so involved that he was obliged to dismiss the exercise 
with the command, to the several company officers, to take 
charge of their respective bodies of men. All this, in sight 
of visitors from all over the brigade, was quite disheartening 
to many, but the men went off the field in so hilarious a mood 
that Colonel Eustis was attracted by the sound and, ascer- 
taining the cause, ordered the companies out again and pro- 
ceeded to put them through a course of drill in which there 
were no errors w^hatever. To the list of officers under arrest 
was added Lieut. Wallace A. Putnam of Company E, whose 
offense was in having refused to obey the order of the Colonel 
in regard to certain barefooted men. It appears that Lieuten- 
ant Putnam, then in command of the Company, on account 
of the lack of shoes had excused some of his men from drill ; 
this coming to the ears of the Colonel, he ordered the Lieuten- 
ant to take the men and with them bring wood from a pile 
left by the Rebels, until he directed him to cease. Considering 
the command as an unreasonable one, under the circumstances, 
the officer flatly refused to obey and was at once placed under 
arrest . 

Springfield people had not forgotten their absent sons, for 
on the 27th came Mr. Wm. Birnie from that city with boxes 
filled with underclothing, etc., from the friends at home. 
The 28th was Thanksgiving and when did these New Eng- 
landers ever go without a good dinner on such a day before? 
Formed in fine, they heard the reading of Governor Andrew's 
proclamation, with some remarks and a prayer by Chaplain 
Bingham but they were not very filling. It was about this 
time that some of the men in McCarthy's Battery stirred 
things up at nine o'clock in the evening, by firing some of their 
guns, being prompted thereto by some whiskey which they stole 
from a passing sutler. As no one would confess the deed, all 
the men were arrested. 



Dec. 5, '62 Belle Piain 153 

The last day of the month was signahzed with pay for four 
months, the paymaster having arrived the night before, 
accompanied with the usual array of sutlers, who liked to keep 
pretty near the source of their wealth. The coming of the 
paymaster was appreciated by the folks at home as well, for 
many of these men sent by far the greater portion of their 
scant wages to those who were waiting for them a long way to 
the northward. Asst. Surgeon Jewett left on that day to 
become the Surgeon of the 51st Massachusetts. The officer 
had endeared himself to many in the Regiment and all wished 
him abundant success in his new field. Though marching 
orders were received Dec. 3d, it was not before early morn 
of the 4th that we were off. The bugle call came before day- 
light and the camp had been a scene of activity for some time 
before the appearance of the sun proclaimed the real advent 
of day. The roads were indescribably bad and baggage trains 
were ever in the way, so that at noon we were scarcely two 
miles from our starting point but, as a definite distance must 
be accompHshed, we pushed ahead of the wagons and six or 
eight miles were marched before we bivouacked in an open 
field. 

On the 5th, we started ere the dawn of day and, after a 
march of about six miles, encamped near Belle Plain, an 
extended stretch of level country occupying considerable 
territory between the mouth of Potomac Creek and Freder- 
icksburg. However, hardly had the shelter tents been pitched, 
for rain was impending and had begun before they were really 
up, when there came the order to pack up and fall in immedi- 
ately. The tents, heavy with moisture, were taken down and 
again piled on our backs for the onward walk of about one 
mile when camp was once more essayed. By this time the 
rain had turned into snow and discomfort came near reaching 
its climax. The bad roads prevented the coming of the wagons, 
so the officers were minus their tents and baggage until late 
at night, and when they did arrive the ground was too wet 
for a bed, consequently the most of the men with shoulder 
straps sat by their fires until morning. Having been told that 



154 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

we should probably remain there a week, measures were at 
once taken to erect quarters which, in a degree, protected us 
from the weather which had become extremely cold. The 
snow that fell the previous day had not melted on the 6th, 
though the sun was shining brightly. The water in our 
canteens froze solid during the night and we were in for a 
taste of soldier's life hitherto unknown. The wood used was 
green pine, a very poor kind of fuel, and the smoke, instead 
of rising, clung to the earth, giving rise to the name familiar 
in regimental annals as "Smoky Hill." Hut building and fire 
making soon made the timber in our vicinity disappear. 

FREDERICKSBURG 

This place, made famous by the events of the ensuing 
months, on the west or south bank of the Rappahannock, is 
fifty miles north of Richmond and one hundred and ten miles 
from Chesapeake Bay. It had then a population of some- 
thing more than 3000 people. It bears in its name a reminder 
of Frederick, Prince of Wales, oldest son of George II and, 
thereby, father of George III of America's Revolutionary 
days. In those times it was the home of Washington's mother 
and hither he came to bid her "Good-bye" when he started 
for Massachusetts in 1775 and here, full of years, she died in 
1789. Many of Washington's earlier years were spent here 
and the chief glory of the Masonic Lodge of Fredericksburg 
is in the fact that the subsequent Father of his Counrty was a 
member. A special dispensation was issued to permit his 
entrance before twenty-one years of age and, upon the walls 
of the lodge room, hangs one of C. W. Peale's portraits of 
Washington. However, the storm of war about to break upon 
the devoted city was to spare all the furnishings of the lodge, 
the home of Mary Washington, and the grave, so long her 
silent abode. 

When Burnside assumed the command of the Army of the 
Potomac, one of the first questions put to him by General 
Halleck was as to what he intended to do with it. McClellan, 
we know, had proposed striking the Confederates when in an 



Dec. 6-11, '02 Fredericksburg 155 

extended and divided condition. The new commander took 
eleven days in which to rearrange his forces, considerably 
above 100,000 in numbers, into three grand divisions, under the 
command of Sumner for the Right, Hooker with the Central, 
and Franklin the Left, each division including two Army 
Corps. The Tenth Massachusetts was within the left wing. 
Critics of the campaign urge that Burnside ought to have 
advanced more quickly and state that when Meade was given 
Hooker's place, there was not the delay of even a day in the 
onward move of the Army. In his reply to the Commander- 
in-Chief, Burnside proclaimed his intention to feint towards 
Culpeper and Gordonsville while his real intention was to 
mass his forces opposite Fredericksburg, cross the Rappa- 
hannock there, and thence move on the Confederate Capital. 
These plans received the approval of the President and it was 
in the preliminaries of such action that the Tenth Regiment 
had been marching through rain, snow and mud for two 
weeks. Burnside had been in command more than a month 
and affairs were now ripening rapidly. 

With military prescience, Lee had fathomed the purposes 
of Burnside and had concentrated his own forces on the heights 
which formed a background for the city. Not being so 
numerous, they had the advantage of position and were con- 
tent to wait the approach of the Union Army. Were our 
province the description of the battle in detail, pages would 
be devoted to the laying of the pontoon bridges, the prodigies 
of valor exhibited by men from Massachusetts and the West ; 
the advance on the 13th of the great army to its terrible 
slaughter; the immortal place won in American history on 
Marye's Heights, up whose slopes brave men charged to cer- 
tain death; the failure of Franklin to advance with his left 
wing as Burnside had expected him to do and the cessation 
of fighting on that fatal Saturday ; the remaining under arms 
for two days and the silent withdrawal to the Stafford side 
of the river; all this would be our province but, now, we are 
to follow the experiences of just one regiment in that vast array 
of several hundred equally brave and well organized bodies. 



156 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

Early on the morning of the 11th, we started for the banks 
of the Rappahannock and reached the lower pontoon bridges 
at about ten o'clock. A heavy fog overhung the river and 
surrounding country and it was difficult to make out objects 
across the stream. We were about a mile below the city and 
back of us were batteries of light artillery while at our right 
were the heavy siege guns of the First Connecticut Heavy 
Artillery. Near the river and commanding the pontoons was 
a battery of six brass guns. Opposite was a dwelling house 
and out-buildings which afforded shelter for sharpshooters 
who had complete range of the floating bridge. While the 
cannon of Couch and Sumner on the right were maintaining 
a furious artillery roar, there being no indications of a dis- 
position to attempt the crossing at once, the men took a useful 
lunch of coffee, hard-tack and pork. The days are short in 
December and the sun had nearly gone down at five o'clock, 
when orders came to cross the bridges. The Second Rhode 
Island was detailed for skirmish duty and so led the way, 
closely followed by the Tenth. The other bridges were used 
by the remaining regiments of the brigade with two of Coch- 
rane 's Brigade. The crossing was covered by a battery of 
light guns which compelled the retreat of the sharpshooters 
who had infested the structures opposite. General Devens, 
with Lieut. Wm. Russell, Jr., Asst. Adjutant General, was on 
the pontoons with the skirmishers, crossing at double quick. 
Reaching the other side the Rhode Islanders quickly deployed 
as skirmishers, exchanging a few shots with the enemy, who 
quickly retired. Our Regiment, followed by the remainder 
of the brigade, marched by the flank to its position in line of 
battle and fronted. There came a few scattering shots and 
then all was quiet, we remaining there until dark, when 
pickets were stationed and the Tenth returned to the vicinity 
of the house where General Devens had established his head- 
quarters. Describing the situation, one of the soldiers of the 
Regiment, after mentioning the hills back of the city remarks, 
"These hills are covered with redoubts, rifle pits and forts. 
From the foot of the hills to the river is a large open plain 



Dec. 12, '62 Fredericksburg 157 

which our troops must cross in order to get to the Rebs, and 
this whole plain is commanded by the Rebel batteries in such 
a way that they can get a cross fire on any part of it, and to- 
morrow our troops must cross this plain. It will be death to 
a good many." 

Generals W. F. Smith and John Newton, of the Sixth Corps 
and Third Division, respectively, witnessed the crossing. 
A cold winter's night settled down upon these soldiers, the 
most of them tenderly reared, and with no protection against 
the rigors of December, they sought such rest as darkness and 
the cold earth could afford. "The worst night I ever passed," 
said many a man as long as he Hved. The 12th, Friday, 
produced another heavy fog; heavy firing was resumed on the 
right and there was some on the left, but nothing assailed the 
position of the Regiment, which was unchanged from that 
of the first day. The 13th of December is indissolubly con- 
nected with the dreadful battle for the possession of the 
heights beyond Fredericksburg, and the many acres of little 
white headstones, so long known as the National Cemetery 
of Fredericksburg, attest the mortality of that terrible day 
and the bravery of those who fought. There are northern 
households that even yet lament the members who there 
yielded up their young lives in their efforts to accomphsh the 
impossible. The loss on the Union side was 12,321 killed, 
wounded and missing; that of the Confederates 5,309. "A 
slaughter," Swinton says, "the most bloody and useless of 
the war." For some reason a merciful fate decreed that the 
Tenth should have only a minor part in that terrible struggle. 
The thunder of the strife roared on both sides of our Regiment 
and those associated with it, but little harm came near them, 
just seventeen wounded in the entire brigade. Many pages 
of print tell of the valor of the day and of the sufferings that 
followed, but in them the Regiment is not mentioned, an 
omission that the friends at home have never regretted. 
While the Irish Ninth of Massachusetts and her Twenty-First 
won imperishable renown, (Plunkett, the armless Sergeant 
of the latter body, living for many years, a sad relic of war's 



158 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

horrors) the Tenth saw and heard, was ever ready, yet was 
not called in. Marye's Heights or Hill will ever arouse dread 
memories of bravery unsurpassed, so grand that its exhibition 
drew from Lee, as he placed his hand upon the arm of Long- 
street, both beholding the awful scene, "It is well that war 
is so terrible, or we would grow too fond of it." 

Sargent of Company K has the following entry for the 13th 
which seems a fair presentation of the situation for himself 
and Regiment during the battle: 

This has been a terrible day to the Army of the Potomac. 
We (i. e., the army as a whole) have been fighting all day and 
have accomplished nothing, except to lose thousands of men 
killed, wounded and prisoners. General Sumner commanded 
on the right. His troops charged the works on Marye's 
Heights four times, only to be driven back each time with 
fearful slaughter. General Franklin commanded on the left 
and part of his troops and General Meade's Division from the 
center (commanded by Hooker) were fighting on the left. 
* * * About three o'clock in the afternoon, our 

brigade was sent down to the left to support some batteries 
there. The Rebels had a beautiful range on our batteries, 
both in front and left flank. Their shells burst over us, in front 
and all around us, and struck in the ground around without 
bursting. * * * About nine o'clock the firing 
ceased and our brigade fell back and got a good night's rest. 

The 14th passed in quiet, a day of consideration for Burn- 
side, one of expected attack by Lee; the Union soldiers 
wondering when they would advance, the Confederates on 
the lookout for the onslaught which never came. On the 
contrary, the Regiment drew rations and, under arms> 
awaited orders. Before daylight of the 15th, we were awak- 
ened and, after a hasty breakfast, marched up to the front 
and were placed in the first line of battle with skirmishers 
thrown out and with troops in reserve. On our right was a 
battery which, opening on a body of Rebel cavalry, quickly 
put it to flight. There were many premonitory symptoms of 
an engagement but they did not materialize. Burnside, who 
had determined to again take the offensive and even lead a 
forlorn hope at the head of his Ninth Corps, had yielded to 



Dec. 18, '62 Falmouth 159 

dissuasive advice and, after a day of anxiety, ordered the 
hosts to recross the river. To our Regiment was allotted 
the dangerous post of rear guard for the left wing, and it was 
the very last to leave. First went the main body of the army, 
then the picket line was withdrawn and went over and, last 
of all, the Tenth Massachusetts turned its back upon the foe. 
So many were there to cross and so slow was the marching on 
the pontoons, it was fully daylight ere the retreat was accom- 
plished and the city was left to the enemy. The army which 
in story so bravely marched up the hill had again marched down 
the same. The engineers were on the bridge during the crossing 
and immediately began taking it up as the last man went by. 
After changes of location on the 16th and 17th, the Regi- 
ment found itself, on the 18th, encamped in a pine thicket 
about two miles from Falmouth. During these moves the 
men experienced much suffering from their old Virginia 
enemy, rain, which in those days was very cold, in one instance 
where the ground was too wet to form a bed, compelling the 
men to spend the night sitting on their knapsacks, with rubber 
blankets thrown over their heads. When men could sleep in 
such attitudes they must have known what weariness was, but 
when they did get natural sleep and good food they were 
straightway themselves again. Lieutenants Crane, Knox and 
Moore, who were among those resigning after Antietam, 
having been dismissed the service, left for home on the 18th. 
Two davs later the other officers who were tried with them 
also received their notifications and soon returned to the 
North. The four captains were cashiered and the lieutenants 
were dismissed the service. Of these officers. Captain Pierce, 
having been rehabilitated, w^as reappointed and transferred 
to the 37th Massachusetts; Captain Newell, by letter from 
the War Department, had his disabilities removed and the 
Governor was authorized to recommission him. As will be 
seen by the roster, Lieutenant Remington of Company G 
was also recommissioned. Very likely, had all the unfortunate 
officers made equal effort, they too might have been restored 
to rank and eraoluments. 



160 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

While the report of General Devens on the part taken by his 
brigade in the battle is not particularly thrilling, yet, as it 
presents a good account of just what the Tenth and other 
regiments did, it is appended in full; 

Headquarters, Second Brigade, 
Near Falmouth, Va., Dec. 17, '62. 

Lieutenant : In regard to the part taken by this brigade in 
the recent operations on the Rappahannock, I have the honor 
to report that, about an hour before sunset on the evening of 
Thursday, the 11th inst., I received the order from Brigadier 
General Newton, commanding the division, to cross my 
brigade as the advance guard of the left wing of the army 
over the pontoon bridges which had been constructed over 
the Rappahannock. General Newton further directed that 
I should cross the brigade in two columns, preceding it by 
skirmishers, and should rest the right of my brigade line, as 
soon as I could form it, upon the bank of a ravine, which he 
designated. The brigade was immediately moved to the 
bridges, and three companies of the Second Rhode Island 
Regiment were thrown across in advance, under Capt. S. B. M. 
Read, of that regiment, supported at once by the rest of the 
regiment (Colonel Wheaton). The two columns, consisting 
of the Tenth Massachusetts, Colonel Eustis, and Seventh 
Massachusetts, Lieutenant Colonel Harlow, by the upper 
bridge, and the Thirty-seventh Massachusetts, Colonel Ed- 
wards, and Thirty-sixth New York, Colonel Browne, by the 
lower bridge, immediately followed. On crossing, the skir- 
mishers almost immediately engaged those of the enemy, a 
considerable body of whom were posted in the garden and 
cluster of houses just above the bridges, and along the front, 
but found no serious difficulty in forcing them out of the gar- 
den and houses, and driving them away from our immediate 
front, so that the other regiments could form without embar- 
rassment. 

In this affair three privates and a capatin of a Georgia 
regiment were taken prisoners by our skirmishers. Two men 
of the Second Rhode Island were wounded, and, probably, 
much greater injury was inflicted on the enemy. 

Having crossed with the skirmishers, I indicated to Colonel 
Eustis, as he led the Tenth Massachusetts up the bank, the 
designated bank point to form in line, which he did at once, 
and was followed rapidly by the other regiments of the brigade. 
The other brigades of the division were also moved across the 



Dec. 17, '62 Devens' Report 161 

river and formed, but were almost instantly withdrawn, and 
I was directed, with the brigade, to hold the crossing during 
the night. The position of the line was changed, as far as 
was deemed necessary, for this purpose, by drawing it in 
closely, so as to form a tete-de-pont, and during the night (one 
of the bitterest of the season) the men were awake and under 
arms, the outposts and pickets being several times engaged 
with those of the enemy, especially soon after daylight the 
next morning. During the day, the left wing of the army 
having crossed, the brigade was twice under artillery fire 
from the batteries of the enemy, and also on Saturday morn- 
ing, by which it suffered considerably. 

On Saturday afternoon the brigade was moved farther to 
the left than the position it had previously occupied in front 
of the bridges, and for the two hours before nightfall was 
under a very severe fire of shot and shell from the batteries 
of ,the enemy. The casualties suffered at this time and at 
the former times will be found in the annexed list. 

On Sunday, the brigade was in reserve, and on Monday in 
the front line, but in no way engaged. On Monday evening, 
learning the intention to evacuate, I requested that this 
brigade, having been the first to cross, might be the last to 
recross the river. It was accordingly designated, with that 
commanded by Colonel Torbert of New Jersey, to form the 
tete-de-pont, and cover the retreat. After the main body of 
the left wing had evacuated, these brigades having in the 
meantime been drawn up in two lines, the pickets, who had 
been left at their posts, were sent for. So silently had the 
retreat been effected, that in most cases they were found not 
aware of it. 

At about four o'clock it was reported that the pickets, 
which had consisted of two regiments from each of the divisions 
of Brigadier Generals Brooks, Newton, Sickles, Birney and 
Doubleday, were in, and after waiting a short time for any 
stragglers who might have lost their way, I gave the order 
for the front line to retreat; the second line immediately 
followed it. The Tenth Massachusetts was the last regiment 
to cross, followed by the bridge guard under Captain Read, 
of the Second Rhode Island, and the bridges were at once 
taken up. Boats were kept on the other side of the river 
until after daybreak, to take off any stragglers, but, as reported 
to me, only a very small number appeared, so carefully and 
thoroughly had the retreat been conducted. 

The behavior of the whole command, both officers and men, 



162 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

for spirit and willingness, could not be exceeded, and I do 
not specify particular instances, because good conduct was 
universal. Captain Read, of the Second Rhode Island, is 
entitled to the honor of having first crossed the bridge and 
engaged the skirmishers of the enemy. 

I am under special obligations, for their zeal and fidelity, 
to my staff, Capt. G. W. Baldwin, assistant adjiitant general, 
who was severely injured; my aide, Lieut. E. Washburn, Jr., 
and Quartermaster J. Aborn, volunteer aide-de-camp. 
I have the honor to be, your obedient servant 

Charles Devens, Jr. 
Brigadier General, Commanding Brigade 
Lieutenant Russell, 

Acting Assistant Adjutant General 

On this same date, viz, Dec. 17th, General Devens addressed 
a letter to Col. A. G. Brown, Military Secretary to Governor 
Andrew, in reply to one from the Colonel asking information 
for the Governor concerning the discipline, harmony, equip- 
ment, etc., of the Tenth Regiment, saying that reports un- 
favorable to its welfare were widely circulated. The substance 
of General Devens 's letter was to the effect that the remaining 
with the Regiment of the officers who had resigned, pending 
their trial and awaiting the results of the same, had had an 
unfortunate influence on the organization, but otherwise he 
knew of nothing likely to disturb its harmony. As to military 
equipment, the Regiment was and always had been most 
thoroughly equipped. While there had been a scarcity of 
clothing in September and October, the men also suffering 
from a want of shoes, these wants had been supplied. He 
said that the quality of the shoes furnished had been such as 
to bring on suffering again in a few weeks, though this condi- 
tion was in no way peculiar to the Tenth, since another regi- 
ment had been obliged to march with nearly one hundred men 
shoeless. Where the "number seven" shoe could not be ob- 
tained he had ordered the Quartermaster to take "eights" 
and distribute them. An inference may be drawn from this 
statement that the trouble over the shoeless soldiers in Lieuten- 
ant Putnam's case may have arisen from their unwilHngness 
to take a shoe larger than their proper size. He said the 



Dec. 25, '62 Falmouth 163 

discipline was excellent and always had been, illustrating his 
good opinion by rehearsing in substance the report on Freder- 
icksburg. " I have been thus particular in showing the events 
of the last four days, as I believe they show in themselves, 
more than I can in any other way write, my confidence in 
the Tenth Massachusetts, its most able Colonel, and its 
officers and men now on duty. * * * His 
Excellency may be assured that the honor of the flags of the 
Union and the State, is entirely safe in its hands." 

The camp which the men now called theirs was about three 
miles from Falmouth and where it began the woods were so 
dense that it was difficult to form a line, but the necessities 
of hut building and fuel soon reduced the forest to such 
proportions that wood for burning had to be carried long 
distances on the backs of the men. Though the labor was 
hard the men thought it preferable to fighting under recent 
conditions. Visits were received from acquaintances in other 
regiments, particularly from the 21st Massachusetts which 
fared so hard on the 13th, losing thirteen killed and over fifty 
wounded. Christmas day in camp was not a merry one though 
some brave hearts attempted some betterment of their regular 
rations by resorting to the sutler. The general tone of the 
army was low. "General" Discouragement seemed to be in 
command. "Officers and men," in the language of Gen. E. V. 
Sumner, "are indulging in a great deal of croaking, there is 
not enough confidence. Thus the old year died ; though it had 
had its victories as well as defeats, the general impression was 
far from being a happy one. President Lincoln had issued 
his Emancipation Proclamation, September 22d, and many 
were expecting beneficial results, but there were soldiers who 
regarded it otherwise and desertions thereby had become 
common, not so much among New England regiments as 
among those from other sections. 

1863 

One of the first events of the new year was the readjustment 
of commissioned officers, incident to the resignation of the 



164 The Tenth Massachusetts Ixfaxtry 

officers in September and the outcome thereof. All had gone 
home except Captain Pierce, whose papers having been lost 
or overlooked, had resumed his place in his Company. Lieut- 
enant Colonel Parsons who had been absent on account of 
illness returned and at once took an active interest in the men. 
Orders were received Jan. 5th to have three days' cooked 
rations in the haversacks that night, said "cooked rations" 
consisting of raw pork, hard-tack, coffee and sugar. In those 
January days the Regiment was trying to make itself com- 
fortable in the camp near White Oak Church, the same being 
not far from Falmouth. With true Saxon industry the soldiers 
had set about making winter quarters, constructing them of 
logs in the old fashioned cob-pile manner, chinking the spaces 
with mud, of which there was no lack, and stretching a shelter 
tent above the logs for a roof. Some of these followed the 
style of the Bright wood structures, though the chimneys 
were more after the southern order, being made of sticks and 
mud, with a barrel for the top piece. During the stay there 
the Regiment did not lack for plenty of picket and outpost 
duty, and notwithstanding the rigor of the season, the general 
health of the men was good. 

Away up in Springfield, the home city, the Republican was 
having a deal of matter in its columns concerning the condi- 
tion of our Regiment. As far back as Dec. 4th the paper had 
an article purporting to result from an interview with Mr. 
Wm. Birnie, whose coming to the Regiment has already been 
mentioned and whose arrival home was naturally noticed. 
On the 9th of January, over his own name, Mr. Birnie set 
forth his impressions, bearing particularly on the vexed ques- 
tion of Major Parker and the resignation of the officers and 
the long wait following their trial. The preceding morning, 
or that of the 8th, Samuel Bowles, the famous editor of the 
Republican, had given a very full statement as to the condition 
of the Regiment, not alone for the satisfaction of the soldiers 
themselves, but to please the folks at home who could not 
help being very anxious over the many articles for and against, 
with which the local press was teeming. If his sympathies 



Jan. 9, '63 On Picket 165 

had a leaning towards the officers who had fared so hard in 
their efforts to resign, he simply spoke the sentiments of the 
majority of the citizens of the locality whence the officers had 
gone into the service, and into whose society they had now 
returned. 

Jan. 9th, there began a three days' tour of picket duty for 
the Regiment, on the banks of the river, in sight of the place 
where the crossing had been in December, and here began 
some of those strange experiences of these northern and 
southern soldiers of the same race and language, bearing no 
personal enmity, separated only by some differences as to 
their respective opinions about the Constitution, though not 
one in twenty on either side could have quoted a dozen words 
from its preamble. Having agreed not to fire on each other, 
these men in blue and gray would converse freely over the 
stream and, if officers were not too near, exchange news- 
papers, not to mention their constant flow of badinage in 
which both Federal and Rebel remarkably excelled. The 
Fifth South Carolina was immediately opposite the Tenth 
and yet the Rappahannock flowed on unvexed between these 
typical representatives of the most divergent interpretations 
of the great document on which the Union was founded. 
A Spencer lad in Company H said that he talked with a man 
from Texas who proclaimed himself sick of the war and wished 
it was over, at the same time declaring it would last until 
the South gained its independence. From Company K comes 
these words, "The river is about twenty yards wide at this 
point. We don't have any trouble with the Rebels. As soon 
as we get on picket we put our bayonet on the gun and stick 
it in the ground, fix up a little fire and sit down and enjoy it. 
The Rebs do the same. The headquarters of our portion of 
the line is an old grist mill and there are so many of us that 
we do not have to stand but twice in twenty-four hours. My 
turn is from six to eight in the morning and six to eight at 
night, so I have the whole night to myself and the day also. 
South Carolina troops are the pickets on the other side of 
the river." 



166 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

In the exchange of items over the river, S. N. Rice of Com- 
pany E sent over some yeast cakes which the Rebels did not 
recognize, and while he was trying to make them understand 
their use, along rode Major Parker on his horse, " Malty," and 
he remarked, "Ah, having a good time, Private Rice, disobey- 
ing orders, are you?" But no such rebuke could prevent the 
men on both sides trading whenever opportunity arose and 
the descendant from the Huguenot or Cavalier was just as 
ready for a swap as the son of the commercial Yankee. Some 
of the boys thought there was a remarkable recognition of 
the fitness of things when one of the "Johnnies" sent over a 
small craft bearing the significant name on its sail, "Body- 
louse," though all agreed that the sender had a plentv left. 
The Major and his favorite steed were well known and some- 
times his confidence in the truthfulness of the soldiers led him 
into trouble, since one of them told him a certain route was 
perfectly feasible but, attempting to ride down the same, he 
was thrown over "Malty's" head, the road being too pre- 
cipitous for any horse. 

Men and home parties were complaining because of the want 
of promptness in the allotment commissioners, more than a 
month having elapsed since the last payment and no notice 
had come of the reception of the moneys in the respective 
homes. Lieutenant Putnam, whose case was heard at last, 
and in which he had pleaded guilty to the charge of disobedi- 
ence of orders, had been released from arrest and returned to 
duty. Chaplain A. J. Bingham, who had been in ill health 
for some time, had taken the surgeon's advice and had sent 
in his resignation, the same taking effect on the 16th of the 
month. His uniform kindness and attention to duty had 
won for him the respect and good will of every man in the 
Regiment. In leaving the organization he made a farewell 
address, feeling in character and filled with excellent advice. 

On the 16th, orders were received to have three days' 
rations in the haversacks and to be ready to march in the 
morning, of which nothing came, though this order was 
really premonitory of the famous 



Jan. 21, '63 Mud March 167 

MUD MARCH 

General Burnside, restive under the result of his unfortunate 
attack on Fredericksburg, was anxious to retrieve his reputa- 
tion and determined on fighting the Rebels again. To the 
end that the enemy might not know his real point of con- 
templated attack, he had been building roads in several 
directions and he intended to make feints at several points, 
while his real purpose was to cross at Banks's Ford, some six 
miles up the Rappahannock, all of which would have been 
very well were it not that General Lee was not idle during all 
of these days, and Burnside's plans, if not absolutely known, 
at least were strongly suspected by the vigilant commander 
of the Confederates. Indeed, on the evening of the 19th, 
Rebel pickets shouted across the river, "Burnside is going to 
try to cross the river at Banks's Ford, but he will find every- 
thing in readiness to receive him." For fully a month, the 
weather and roads had been all that could be asked for, but 
hardly had the expedition started before the rain commenced 
also. Northern soldiers had begun to think that Pluvius 
was in league with the enemy, though, on second thought, 
they realized that his liquid compliments were just as wet 
for Rebels as they were for Union soldiers. The Grand 
Divisions of Franklin and Hooker moved up the river on 
parallel roads and, at night, camped conveniently near the 
ford. Couch's Corps moved down the river, as if intending 
to attack in that direction, while final arrangements were 
made to attack on the 21st; then came the rain. 

That storm, like so many during the war, came near break- 
ing all former records. Though the men built fires and put 
up their shelter tents, the latter would not, could not shelter 
the occupants who, soaked to the skin, waited and prayed for 
the morning. Turning out at 4.30 a. m. of the 21st, there 
was no waiting for breakfast even, but "Forward" was the 
word. Soon the pontoon train was passed; the same stuck fast 
in the mud and the men in charge of it swore furiously. 
At ten o'clock was heard the welcome order, "Halt" and 



168 The Tenth ]V'L\ssachusetts Infantry 

breakfast was prepared. Next came orders to pack up and 
to seek new quarters on a side hill half a mile away. Otis 
Littlejohn of Company I, overcome by the rigors of the march 
and weather, was taken sick and died soon after. Of the mud, 
one of the waders reports, "I have seen mud from a foot and a 
half to two feet deep, with a hundred men. by means of a rope^ 
trying to pull along a pontoon wagon having six mules hitched 
to it, vet. though all worked together, they made no impression. 
* * * When we moved our camp to a side hill, 
it was an improvement because the water would run down 
hill and we, too, would have rolled down were it not for the 
sticks, driven into the ground with larger ones crossing, 
against which we braced our feet and so managed to remain." 
Evervbodv expected to be up and oft" early on the 22d, but 
we were doomed to disappointment, for though we were 
ordered to pack up the order was soon countermanded and 
another day was spent on the hillside with the air full of mist 
if nothing worse. Across the river where we had seen a fanner 
spreading manure and ploughing, now loomed a long line of 
rifle pits. Towards night the weather cleared. The morning 
call of the 23d came at four o'clock and now, surely, would 
come the move to cross again, at least so the soldiers thought. 
Again, however, they were wrong, since Burnside, having 
yielded to the advice of his associate officers, had decided to 
go back, so with a companv assigned to each gun of McCarthey's 
Battery, just to help it along, the return march was begun. 
Starting at 10.00 a. m., camp was reached about the middle 
of the afternoon, though many of the men. worn out by the 
exposures and hardships, fell out completely exhausted. 
Recognizing the deplorable condition of the Union Army, 
jocular Rebels across the river even shouted their intentions 
to cross over the next day and help build the bridges, and 
they put up a sign so big that we could read it, "Burnside's 
stuck in the mud!" Until this effort at campaigning in 
winter, the possibilities of Virginia mud had never been fully 
realized. The attempt, also, was the final endeavor of General 
Burnside to retrieve the good opinion that the public had of 



Jan. 24-31, '63 Burnsidk Resigns 169 

him when he was called from North Carolina, almost a year 
before. Hooker succeeded him soon and thereafter his com- 
mand was of a subordinate character. 

The 24th was cleaning-up day and thereby a busy one^ 
while pioneers labored hard in digging out the pontoon wagons 
and getting them back to camp. The 26th brought back 
regular habits to the men, in that they were inspected by 
Captain Reed, while Lieut. W. A. Putnam of Company E^ 
having resigned, left the Regiment for home. The day before, 
General Burnside had tendered his resignation and the Presi- 
dent, having accepted it, appointed, on the 27th, as his 
successor the officer known to so many as "Fighting" Joe 
Hooker. Gen. Wm. B. Frankhn, commanding the left wing 
;was reHeved by the Secretary of War, while Gen. E. V. Sumner, 
the senior of Hooker in rank, was relieved at his own request, 
and going to his home in Syracuse, N. Y., died a few months 
afterwards. The farewell address of General Franklin was 
read on the 27th and the next day eight inches of snow fell, 
a pretty good fall for any section. The last day of the month 
brought visitors from the North in the persons of Judge Wells 
of Chicopee and Mr. Tiffany of Springfield. 

Though commanding officers changed and some of them 
retired to their homes and to civil life, the men in the ranks 
stayed on and were performing their regular round of duty. 
Friends at home were not forgetful, and from them came 
tokens of remembrance in the shape of food and clothing. A 
Spencer lad thus received a pair of boots, comforter, mittens, 
towels, etc., to his manifest comfort, early in February. To 
another came a box filled with creature comforts, the most 
conspicuous being a twelve-pound turkey, and he immediately 
set about preparing a great dinner in memory of the Thanks- 
giving feast that he did not have the last November. By the 
5th the men were pretty well aware that Hooker was in 
command, that the grand divisions were given up and that 
the Regiment, with others of the Sixth Corps, was under the 
command of Gen. John Sedgwick who was "Uncle John" to 
his loyal followers until the bullet of the rifleman at Spottsyl- 



170 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

vania laid him low. Gen. W. F. Smith, the late commander, 
had been ordered to the Department of North Carolina. 
Picket duty resumed its former character and habits. When 
the attention of the officers was not too close, it was easy 
to exchange papers and other commodities, one side being 
just as ready as the other. Each tour of duty, done by regi- 
ments, was three days long. 

All sorts of rumors filled the ears of the men as to what the 
future had in store for them, among others, one being to the 
effect that the Tenth would go to Baltimore to do provost 
duty under General Briggs. For the first time since the 
Regiment left home, furloughs were becoming possibilities to 
men in the ranks, though they were for only ten days, the 
major part of which time was spent in going and coming. 
But long or short, only those who had been home on furlough 
could adequately describe its pleasures. Such stories of 
hardships and privations, all the more intense in the presence 
of the comforts which home had in abundance! What har- 
rowing tales of perils in battle, possibly of wounds received 
where others lost their lives, heroes in blue who, before enlist- 
ment, were just ordinary men and boys! Happy he who had 
his furlough and how dreary the days to him who, for any 
reason, failed to get his leave of absence! 

As early as the 1 1th of February Colonel Eustis temporarily 
commanded the brigade. Matters in camp were assuming 
quite a permanent appearance when we saw new ovens erected 
with the intention of furnishing loaves of new, soft bread 
every day, a most delightful variant on the hard bread, so 
long in vogue. General Hooker ordered a more liberal dis- 
tribution of vegetables to the men, thereby in no way lessening 
his hold on them. The inspiriting presence of General Hooker 
soon ended desertions, and immediately raised the hopes and 
expectations of his soldiers. It was in these days that the 
different Army Corps began the wearing of distinctive Corps 
badges, that of the Sixth being the Greek cross, in all future 
years to be almost worshipped by the men who followed it. 
As members of the Second Brigade, Third Division, the Tenth 
Regiment wore the cross in blue. 



Feb. 22, '63 Washington's Birthday 171 

At the best, winter quarters were not especially attractive, 
but our men were getting all the possible good out of them. 
The 22d of the month, the day rendered sacred by its asso- 
ciations with the man who, in his younger days, had rambled 
over these very hills and plains, was allowed to pass without 
particular recognition. Snow fell in abundance and the wind 
blew a gale. Snow drifted in and about the camp shanties 
exactly as it would do at home and, the day being Sunday, 
all were content to let it pass in quiet. As a matter of fact, 
it is probable that not one man in ten realized that Washing- 
ton's spirit was abroad on this stormy day, until, about noon, 
a heavy cannonading began on the Union right and, soon after, 
the Rebels began also. Were the hostilities of two months 
ago to be resumed? If so, where was the long roll, where the 
orders to fall in with the utmost speed? Luckily some men 
with their wits about them counted the discharges and the 
result was thirty-four for the Union side, thirteen for the 
Confederate and the boys were ready to stand at attention 
and to salute, in behalf of the Father of his Country. It was 
a strange phase of the strife in such deadly progress, that both 
sides should salute a common memory. The enemy, however, 
could not recognize thirty-four states in the Union, so fell 
back on the old original thirteen. Possibly, had the way 
been open, some of these young men on reverence bent would 
have visited the tomb of Washington's mother to moralize 
on the fratricidal struggle now prevailing. 

Notwithstanding all the rigors of the winter and the con- 
stant exposures, the health of the Army was comparatively 
good; perhaps the nearness of the base of supplies and the 
consequent regularity of food may have had its part in the 
result, for nothing contributes more to health than regular 
and proper rations; well supplied thus, a deal of exaction in 
other directions can be withstood. The boys would have been 
glad if the wood or fuel supply had been nearer, since the same 
had to be backed fully half a mile and they thought it required 
a deal of it to maintain their fires. For the 2-ith this entry 
is found, "It snows today and it is quite cold. It is about all 



172 The Tkxth Massachusetts Infantry 

we can do to keep warm. For fuel, we have cut down some 
black walnuts here that would be worth a pile of money up 
North." What a characteristic Yankee remark! The native 
New Englander seldom fails to realize what extravagance is. 
though he may not always practice economy. On the last 
day of the month, the Regiment was mustered for pay by 
Col. Horatio Rogers, Jr., the new Commander of the Second 
Rhode Island Regiment. 

The month of March began with a continuation of the rather 
severe weather of February, with a regular recurrence of 
fatigue and guard duty. The 4th day brought the first product 
of the new baker's ovens in the shape of fresh bread, reminding 
every home-loving bov of what he was wont to get in former 
days. These soldiers, intent on preserving the Union, knew 
when the baking was begun and thought it extremely slow in 
its progress, so hungry were thev for the outcome. One 
enthusiast proclaimed the living better than it had been since 
leaving Bright wood. Again on the 6th came reminders from 
home in the shape of three express loads of boxes and pack- 
ages, reaching camp by way of Aquia Creek and the army 
transportation thence. Goodies that were well packed, came 
through all right, those in air tight parcels best, and if the 
box had not been too long on the road, it made good not only 
the heart but the stomach of the recipient. The next day 
the Regiment came back to real army life in having to go 
on picket with their opposite watchers as cheerful and sociable 
as usual. Some of the boys found the Fifth Louisiana oppo- 
site and the lads in gray proclaimed themselves sick and tired 
of the war. Just what our own men said is not recorded. 

Evidently something was in the air, for orders were received 
on the 11th to be ready to move at a moment's notice. On 
that day one of the Tenth's men went over to the Second 
Corps to visit a friend and he found the mud so deep that it 
took him all day to walk the four miles there and back. Col. 
Wm. H. Browne, 36th New York, conducted a brigade review 
on the 13th, while the 14th was notable in that Brigade 
Inspector General Reed inspected thoroughly. Rations of 



Mar. 17- April 8, '63 Falmouth 173 

hard-tack also had a forward movement look. Capt. George 
Pierce of Company G, whose papers did not appear when 
those of his associates were sent in December, having been 
found among other items in General Franklin's files and 
forwarded, went home that day. Edmund Bigelow of Spring- 
field came as a visitor and saw real camp Hfe. St. Patrick's 
Day, or the 17th, had its pecuhar feature in that three drills 
a day were ordered, viz. Company, 7.30 to 8.30 a. m., and from 
10.30 a. m. to noon; Battalion from 2.00 to 4.00 p. m., and 
the spirit of preparation was apparent. The next day the 
earlier company drill was omitted that the men might have 
time to get wood. It was on this same 17th of March that the 
opening shot of the Spring campaign was fired at Kelly's 
Ford where Averill and his cavalry engaged the Confederates 
under Fitz Hugh Lee. General Newton, Division Commander, 
reviewed the Brigade on the 24th. Captain Barton returned 
to duty the 25th, and the month, true to its traditions, went 
out in a snow storm. 

April began with Company I at the right of the regimental 
line since Captain Barton, then in command, was the senior 
officer of that rank in the Regiment. Corps Commander 
General Sedgwick reviewed the division on the 2d (Fast Day 
at home) and the following day, General Hooker himself 
reviewed, riding his splendid gray horse, every inch the soldier* 
accompanied by a large retinue of officers of all grades of rank 
and merit. Five inches of snow fell on the 5th and men from 
Berkshire expressed their opinions of weather in the "Sunny 
South," though in the intervals between storms the boys 
found time and place for playing ball. Every annalist of the 
Tenth wrote in his entry for the 8th, " Reviewed by Lincoln." 
The President in his desire to see for himself the result of the 
change in commanders of the Army of the Potomac, with his 
wife and younger sons, had come down to Falmouth and on 
that day saw what Hooker had denominated "the finest 
army on the planet." Over 100,000 men in any form is a 
magnificent sight, but massed in close array the impression on 
the President and his friends must have been awe-inspiring. 



174 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

One observer has left this excellent pen-picture of the scene : 

When all were ready, the President and suite, with General 
Hooker and staff, took position on an elevated piece of ground, 
and the mighty host began to file in review before and past 
them. On and on came the grand cavalcade, by companies, 
by regiments, brigades, divisions and corps, each headed by 
its respective commander. Whence came all these men? 
Whence are they fed, clothed and armed in this barren place? 
Surely the resources of our glorious country must be inex- 
haustible. 

No one had occasion to ask, "Which is Lincoln?" His 
careworn face proclaimed his identity at once. Said one of 
the men, "He looks as though he was having a hard time, 
poor man." He had aged measurably since we saw him last, 
viz, at Downsville. His sons, Will and Tad, as well as his 
wife and other ladies, accompanied him. The sight of well 
dressed women from the home-land was a source of special 
pleasure to these men, so far from the lights of their own 
households. It was the popular opinion that General Hooker 
had done wonders in improving the appearance and spirits of 
the men, and the future, with all its probabilities, was faced 
with courage and bright expectations. 

Nor did the coming of dignitaries and ladies cease on the 
8th, since the day after introduced Generals Sedgwick, Newton, 
Devens, Frank Wheaton, R. B. Ayres, and the wife of General 
Newton, all of whom paid the camp a visit. On the 10th 
there was a regimental muster that the Adjutant General of 
Massachusetts might have data on which to prepare for 
filling up the organizations with recruits. A balloon under 
the care of Lieutenant Kaulbach of the Tenth, with a large 
detachment of men, also from the Regiment, was stationed 
near and frequent ascents were made by skilled aeronauts. 
R. W. Bowles, one of the Springfield boys in the Tenth, and a 
regular correspondent of the Republican, having made an 
ascension, thus glowingly describes his sensations: 

Tuesday my desire to go up was gratified, and I was sent 
a thousand feet towards heaven in a basket, to my inex- 
pressible delight. It was a clear, cloudless dav, and from that 



April 11, '63 On Picket 175 

height I could see a landscape of a radius of more than thirty 
miles. It was beautiful, grand, sublime, far exceeding any- 
thing I had ever witnessed before. I looked down upon two 
contending armies, upon Fredericksburg and Falmouth, the 
winding Rappahannock and the historic Potomac, and upon 
the white-winged craft upon this watery highway. The earth 
looked like an immense carpet, with its many-hued figures; 
the bright green of the springing grain, and the dark, seared 
look of the oak forests; the deep, rich green of the moist 
meadows, and the cold, gray land from which corn and wheat 
had been gathered, the pine groves and bustling camps; 
forming a picture never to be forgotten. I looked down upon 
rich and extensive plantations, where the oppressed negro 
had labored and suffered to provide means for the tyrannizing 
white man to live in lazy luxury, now deserted, the fences 
gone, the buildings and shade trees long since destroyed, to 
furnish a brief comfort for weary soldiers; the negroes all 
gone, and the few remaining whites compelled to do their 
own work, poor things. They complain of the presence of the 
armv preventing them from "making any bread this year." 
They never raise or grow anything here; they always "make 
it."" 

April 1 1th there was a battalion drill in the afternoon and, 
later, a review by an officer from some foreign army, Newell 
says "Swiss," another observer writes "Swede" and still 
another makes the officer an Englishman. Once more, on 
the 12th, the entire Regiment essayed the picket line on the 
banks of the Rappahannock and accustomed amenities were 
resumed. The foe opposite was the Thirty-First Georgia and 
through its members late southern papers were obtained. 
Sargent of Company K writes, "Last night two of the enemy 
tried to swim across the river; one of them succeeded, the 
other was drowned. The one who escaped said his comrade 
had $100 dollars in gold in his pocket." While the men did 
not know it, the Spring campaign was beginning. The 
hospitals had been rid of all men able to return to service, 
necessities had been distributed, at the same time all surplus- 
age had been eliminated and, on the 13th, Stoneman started 
northward with 10,000 cavalry to cross the upper waters of 
the Rappahannock and so turn back, when reached, the 



176 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

enemy's left. Hooker had above 100,000 men, not counting 
his cavah-y which he vowed to make a more effective part 
of the service than it had been in the past, his question, "Who 
ever saw a dead cavalryman?" expressing, to some extent, 
the condition in which he thought he found that branch of 
the army. He expected Stoneman to reach round the Rebels 
and coming upon their line of supplies from Richmond to 
destroy the same and, with his own main force, crossing at 
Kelly's Ford, to overcome and possibly capture the entire 
force of Lee which was less in numbers than his own by nearly 
40,000 men. Doubleday says his plans ought to have suc- 
ceeded, but the Commander had forgotten to reckon with the 
elements, for scarcely had Stoneman started when the rain 
began to fall and it came in the usual torrents known only 
to regions southwards. 

The Tenth received orders, on the 14th, to be ready to 
advance on the following day with eight days' rations in knap- 
sack and haversack and with twenty extra rounds of cart- 
ridges. Up to this time the weather had been fine, the roads 
seemed settled and the men were pronounced in their admira- 
tion for the new Commander. But on the 15th the windows 
of heaven were opened and the floods descended. Our Regi- 
ment was just coming off picket and the men received a wet- 
ting, second to none in their lives. From one o'clock in the 
morning until late at night, the rain continued to fall and 
the ensuing mud warned Hooker to suspend his movement 
till dryer times. The late tour of duty on picket was near or 
on the old Washington farm, then held by the Fitz Hughs, 
all of whom except the wife, two daughters, and an eighteen- 
year old son were in the South, two sons in the army. They 
claimed to have inherited the plantation from General Wash- 
ington. Our Massachusetts men were interested in learning 
that the apple orchard on the place was from a Boston 
nursery and a northern piano was a source of music in the 
parlor. On that day Colonel Eustis returned from a short 
furlough and to Company G came a present of twenty-five 
dollars from the Christian Association of Greenfield, an 



April '63 



Baseball 



177 



opportune gift for men who were six months away from 
pay day. 

In the midst of so much warHke preparation it was a reUef 
to find the bovs of the Tenth and those of the o6th New York 





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Capt. E. Smart, Capt. H. C. Lombard, Capt. L. B. Walkley, 

Lieut. L. O. Eaton, Capt. J. K. Newell, Lieut. D. M. Chase, 

Lieut. J. Knox, Lieut. L. M. Remington, Sergt. J. W. Currier. 

(From wood cut in Newell's History.) 

playing a game of baseball and all must have quit good 
natured, since the game itself was a draw. Gen. Charles 
Devens, who had so long cominanded the brigade, had been 
ordered to the command of the First Division in the Eleventh 
Corps, and under the command of Gen. 0. O. Howard, and 



178 The Tenth MAssACHtisEXTs Ixfaxtry 

on the morning of the 21st, though cold and raw, the entire 
brigade was paraded to pay parting honors to the retiring 
commander. The line was formed on a sloping hillside and 
the General was received with loud acclaim as he rode upon 
the field. The parade was faultless, the field officers coming 
to the front were cordially greeted and, through them, parting 
words were expressed for the several regiments. He then 
addressed them in eloquent words, expressive of his regret 
at leaving his old command with which he had been connected 
very nearly a year, commending the bravery of the men on 
every field from Williamsburg to Fredericksburg. Comment 
was made on the serious changes among the field officers in 
the brigade, only Major F. P. Harlow of the Seventh Massa- 
chusetts remaining of those whom he met when he assumed 
command. He paid a tribute to the brave men who had 
fallen in battle, mentioning specially Major Miller of the 
Tenth, who had so covered himself with glory at Fair Oaks 
and Malvern. His concluding words were full of patriotic 
fervor, uttered as only General Devens could speak, and his 
hearers shouted themselves hoarse in their approval of his 
sentiments. These final words were: 

Comrades, we are lighting for constitutional liberty; we are 
strugghng to prove that man is capable of self-government ; 
to show to the nations that a free government can be good, 
powerful, enduring — capable of sustaining itself and succoring 
the oppressed of all peoples. For this, our fellow soldiers 
have died. For this, so manv brave men who were with us 
one year ago are now sleeping in the cold earth. Shall we be 
less patriotic than they? Shall we be less brave, less devot- 
ed to our country? No! let us show that we who survive, love 
our country as devotedly, and are as ready to serve her as 
those who have shed their blood for her, and that when it 
may be necessary, we too, are ready to lay down our lives in 
her cause. 

And now my dear comrades, I must say Farewell! May 
God bless you. Whoever may command you will find you 
one of the best if not the best brigade in the service, and I 
believe wherever you go, or whoever may lead you, you will 
do your duty well, and cover yourselves with glory and honor. 
Farewell! Farewell! 



April 27, '63 Chancellorsville 179 

Before leaving his quarters, the Hne officers of the Tenth 
took leave of him in person and the regimental field officers 
accompanied him as far as General Hooker's headquarters 
on his way to his new position. There was an inspection that 
day and another issue of eight days' rations, a rather burden- 
some outfit, much larger than had been the custom. The 
paymaster at last made his appearance on the 24th and was 
smilingly received, even though several months wages did 
not make a very large sum for each individual. 

CHANCELLORSVILLE 

April 27th brought the orders which proved to be eftectual, 
to be ready to march in the morning; the famous campaign 
of Chancellorsville was about to begin. The 28th dawned 
bright and clear and the starting would have been happy 
had it been made then, but for some reason there was a delay 
until 3.00 p. m., when the rain had begun to fall, though we 
fell in and proceeded just the same; indeed to march in any 
ordinary rain seemed to be quite the thing with the Army 
of the Potomac. Five o'clock brought us to a sheltered 
ravine about one mile from the river's bank. Here the tents 
went up and we camped for the night, hidden from the sight 
of the foe; others of our army were passing all night. The 
reveille for the 29th was the sound of musketry and artillery 
near the river where Russell's Brigade of the First Division 
was forcing a crossing. Men had been busy all the night carry- 
ing pontoons on their shoulders to the river and launching 
them in the stream. This had been done so quietly that not 
even the pickets of the enemy knew what was coming till in 
the dim morning's light they saw the boats bearing Russell's 
men approaching. They could scarcely fire a few volleys 
before they were effectually scattered by some charges of 
cannister thrown among them by a battery on the Union side 
of the river. A number of prisoners were taken, including the 
officer of the picket guard, and a few were wounded among 
our men. 

We began to wonder if the days of middle December were 



180 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

to be lived over again, for the bridge was just where Frankhn's 
bridge had been and the point was known as Frankhn's 
Crossing. Subsequently we learned that this movement was 
a part of Hooker's strategy, endeavoring to make the enemy 
believe that his real objective was here, while his true purpose 
was to fight much further to the right. It also appeared that 
this part of his plan succeeded since Stonewall Jackson, well 
supported, was placed on the Confederate right to withstand 
the expected attack. Cannonading began at 7.00 a. m. at 
our left, near Dr. Morrison's house. The Second Brigade was 
ordered in that direction and we moved down a ravine lead- 
ing to the river. On reaching the plain, we took position in a 
sunken road, whose sides, several feet high, formed excellent 
breastworks and here we remained several hours, having in 
view a battery at our left which was shelling a range of 
rifle pits opposite. The hostile occupants were making it 
hot for our pontoniers, who were trying to lay a bridge at 
that point. The bridge itself was known as the lower bridge, 
to distinguish it from the first one laid which was near the 
Bernard house. 

As an accompaniment to this action of the First, Third 
and Sixth Corps, a statement should be made of what the 
other part of the grand army was doing. On the morning of 
Monday, the 27th, the Fifth, Eleventh and Twelfth Corps 
had marched to the northward, reaching the vicinity of 
Kelly's Ford on the Rappahannock on the following day, and 
during the night of the 28th and early on the 29th, effected 
its crossing on a bridge of canvas pontoons, the river being 
too high for fording. The three corps then proceeded towards 
Chancellorsville on two parallel roads. The right column 
(Eleventh and Twelfth) struck the Rapidan at Germanna 
Ford, the left column (Fifth Corps) at Ely's. The stream 
was barely fordable, but it was immediately resolved to cross 
by wading, and in the men went, though the most of them 
were naked, their armament and clothing being held aloft 
on their bayonets' points, the water reaching the shoulders 
of the average man. It was a hilarious scene as these Adamic 



April 30, '63 Fredericksburg 181 

clad soldiers took their first bath of the Spring. Those who 
were carried away by the swift waters were rescued by a 
cavalry picket, stationed some distance below. The army 
then headed towards Chancellorsville reaching the same in 
the afternoon of the 30th. Meanwhile the Second Corps, 
under General Couch, had marched to United States Ford, 
where he was to remain until the advanced corps had crossed 
and moved down the other side of the river. As soon as 
Meade, Howard and Slocum were across the Rapidan, pon- 
toons were laid over the Rappahannock and the Second Corps 
was speedily marched across, so that at night, April 30th, 
the four corps were all encamped at Chancellorsville, to which 
place, that very night, Hooker moved his headquarters. 
Thus far everything had gone well with the General's plans, 
since he was now, with 50,000 well armed men, in a position 
to take in reverse the entire fortified line of Lee. 

Returning to the corps stationed below Fredericksburg, we 
find two more pontoon bridges laid, some distance further 
down the stream, for the convenience of the First Corps, over 
which Wadsworth's Division of that Corps had passed, while 
Brooks's of the Sixth also crossed early on the 29th. The 
cloudy, misty weather completely hid the Confederates' posi- 
tion until 9.15 a. m., when, the mist lifting for about thirty 
minutes, firing began from our batteries on the left. Then the 
mist intervened again, when the enemy opened from a six-gun 
battery on the hill, opposite Dr. Morrison's, directing its shot 
at the troops which had crossed. While pickets were posted 
and an aggressive disposition was intimated, there was no 
further crossing, and the Federal forces, on the other side, 
made no effort to conceal their camp fires which were within 
three hundred yards of the foe, who were busy intrenching, 
evidently expecting an attack in force. At six in the after- 
noon orders were received to get all the rest possible, an 
intimation that work was impending on the morrow. 

The last day of April ushered in great activity on the part 
of the men opposite Fredericksburg. Thinking his feint so 
thoroughly successful, Hooker had ordered Sickles and his 



182 The Tp:xth Massachusetts Infantry 

Third Corps, having constituted a reserve during the ma- 
noeuvres on the left, to march to a juncture with the four 
corps already on the right. At 4.00 a. m. we were ordered 
to pack our knapsacks and to be ready to march in three- 
quarters of an hour, though it was noon before we started and 
then only to move a few rods, when we halted. To our 
relief the weather cleared up and we could distinctly see the 
Rebels swarming about their redoubts and rifle pits on the 
heights above the plain. The pickets of the opposing forces 
were only a few hundred yards apart and were lying flat on 
the ground. It was during these hours that the remarkable 
order of General Hooker was read before the troops, massed 
by brigades, to the effect that the enemy must come out from 
behind his defenses or ingloriously fly. The message was 
received with vociferous applause, though some of the older 
troops, like our own Regiment, grown used to flamboyant 
orders, did not lead in the cheering. When, a few days later, 
the army was racing for its life, the favorite salutation was, 
"How's your inglorious fly?" While there was cannonading 
later in the day there was no further action on the part of 
the Sixth Corps. 

It was not such a May Day as the poet describes to which 
our soldiers, in this part of Virginia, were introduced the next 
morning. While the real battle was not on, its premonitory 
rumbles were more alarming than some engagements whose 
story has filled whole pages of history. True to his instruc- 
tions to engage the attention of the enemy, Sedgwick was still 
keeping just enough of his men across the river to make Lee 
believe that the rest would follow soon and, at the same time, 
he was so nearly foot free that he could up bridges and march 
to the right in a very few moments. To make the ruse more 
complete troops were marched and countermarched in such 
a manner that, to the observing Confederates, it appeared 
that an attack was imminent and heavy masses of his force 
were concentrated near where the onslaught might be expected. 
While thus in battle line, one of our bands near the skirmish 



May 2, '63 Fredericksburg 183 

line struck up "Dixie" and the enemy, catching the strain, 
answered with defiant yells, to which our men responded 
in even louder tones, clearly a windy contest, with honors, 
such as they were, on our side. All these hours the thunders 
of Hooker's guns on the right had shaken the ground as if 
by earthquake shocks. 

On the morning of Saturday, the 2d, the First Corps was 
ordered to withdraw from its position, its bridges were taken 
up and it moved up the river to join the main arm 3^ on the 
right. Thus the Sixth Corps was left alone to maintain the 
Union left, except for Gibbon's (First) Division of the Second 
Corps, whose camp was too plainly seen by the enemy to 
warrant its disturbance. The main battle of Chancel- 
lorsville was raging ten miles away and, however absorbing 
its details might be, the story of the Tenth Regiment is found 
in the incidents of the day, much nearer Fredericksburg. 
The ball opened in our vicinity with an artillery duel, not 
particularly effective, though it was very noisy. Two regi- 
ments of our brigade were still on the plain, near the river, 
while the Tenth and the 36th New York were behind a hill, 
a short distance from the previous night's stopping place" 
After 10.00 a. m. a feint was made towards crossing the river, 
but all returned to the cover of the hill, except the Second 
Rhode Island. At noon we came back to our first position 
where we continued all the afternoon, or until seven o'clock, 
when we were again ordered forward. At this time our skir- 
mishers across the river began firing, those of the enemy 
falling back as ours advanced. Eight o'clock found us on 
the plain, near the crossing, and at half past nine we crossed 
on the lower pontoon bridge at Franklin's Crossing and 
formed line on the opposite bank. After a few moments' 
rest we were added to the line already formed and extending 
across the plain. Now our advance changed from one in line 
to that by the right flank and, on the Bowling Green Road, 
the column marched towards Fredericksburg which was 
reached at daybreak. Newell's account of May 3d follows: 



184 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

SALEM HEIGHTS OR CHURCH 

Our entry into the city was sharply contested by the enemy's 
skirmishers, but we reached the railway depot without any 
considerable loss. As soon as the enemy discovered us, they 
opened upon us with shell from a battery, and sharpshooters 
from the rifle pits. A charge was made upon these works 
by the Light Division,* but it was repulsed. In the meantime 
our forces which remained on the plain were vigorously attacked 
and driven towards the crossing, but quickly recovered the 
ground. A terrible cannonading continued the whole time 
from the heights above the plain and the city. Our batteries 
took a position under the guns of the enemy's works above 
the citv. Heavy firing commenced far on our right towards 
Chancellorsville, and was kept up during the day. At quarter 
to eight in the morning, the Tenth, together with a brigade 
of the Second Corps was ordered to our right, to draw the 
attention of the enemy from the real point of attack. Marched 
nearly a mile under a withering fire of shell from two brass how- 
itzers on the hill, some eight hundred yards distant, and posted 
in such apositionthat they could not be silenced by our batteries. 
It was the most trying ordeal since Malvern Hill, and nearly 
every company in the brigade lost more or less men during 
the movement. The Tenth suffered to the extent of sixteen 
brave men killed and severely wounded. At last obtained 
the cover of a stone wall on the river bank, which screened 
us from the fire of the battery, and enabled us to take a 
little rest. 

At 11.00 a. m., a desperate charge was made on the worksf 
above the city, by the Seventh Massachusetts and the 36th 
New York of our brigade, in connection with the Light 
Division, Col. Hiram Burnham of the Sixth Maine in command. 
The first charge of the Light Division was repulsed, but the 
second, one of the most brilliant on record, was successful, 
and the heights were carried. Two guns and many prisoners 
were captured. These were the same two guns that had 
annoyed us so much in the earlier part of the day, and their 
capture was a source of much gratification, as well as revenge, 
as they were immediately turned upon the flying enemy, 



*An extra division, made up of the original First Brigade, Second 
Division, and one regiment each from the First and Third Divisions. 
It comprised the Fifth Wisconsin, Sixth Maine, 31st and 33d New- 
York and the 61st Pennsylvania. 

t(Marye's Heights). 



May 3, '63 Salem Heights 185 

and did considerable execution. In this movement the Seventh 
Massachusetts led the charging column, marching up 
the road by the flank, and sustaining terrible losses 
in the right companies. The meadows on both sides 
of the road were flooded with water, rendering the advance 
difficult and hazardous. The loss on our side was fearful, 
one regiment losing two hundred out of five hundred men. 
In the charge the 36th New York took a most brilhant part, 
led by their gallant commander, Lieutenant Colonel Walsh. 
They advanced, under a scathing fire, directly up to a stone 
wall, without firing a single shot in return. Colonel Walsh 
pointed out to the men what they had to do, and made them 
the following characteristic address: "Do ye see thim 
heights? Take thim, ye must, or will ye die here, for go back 
ye shall not." To this impassioned speech, his men responded, 
"Lead us on, Paddy,* lead us on." This speech, dehvered 
in his own peculiar native brogue, had the desired effect. 
With steady tramp, the brave Irishmen advanced right up 
into the very jaws of death, the shot and shell from the heights 
plowing through their ranks, and the infantry in the rifle pits 
mowing them down with every discharge. Undaunted by 
the murderous fire, they kept their line, moved steadily- 
forward, and the heights, where ten thousand men were lost 
in an attempt to charge last December, were carried. On 
reaching the crest, one of the 36th rushed to a Rebel artillery- 
man who, swab in hand, stood by the side of his piece, and 
seizing the swab, with it dealt the Reb a blow with good 
Irish emphasis. Colonel Walsh was not unmindful of this 
deed on the part of his man, who had been "broken" repeat- 
edly as a non-commissioned officer for tarrying too long with 
the "crater," and in his enthusiastic appreciation shouted, 
"Well done, well done; ye 're a sergeant from this out; I'll 
break ye no more, whatever ye may do." A cheer from our 
men proclaimed their triumph, which the enemy on our left, 
mistaking for a cheer from their ov^^n men, took up, and 
another of their indescribable hideous howls resounded from 
one end of the line to the other. As soon, however, as they 
found on which side the advantage lay, they jumped out of 
the rifle pits and fell back, followed by a few shots from our 
batteries. 

In the meantime the Tenth had been withdrawn from the 
cover of the stone wall and made a quick march back through 



*To his men the Lieutenant Colonel was known as "Paddy Walsh." 



186 The Tenth Massachusetts Ixfantky 

the city, when, turning to the right, they commenced the 
ascent up the hills. The heat was intense, and that, with the 
rapid march, overpowered some of the men. After a short 
rest they again moved in pursuit of the flying enemy. On 
coming within range of their batteries, thev opened with 
solid shot, having to appearances exhausted their supplv of 
shell. 

Our charging coluinn advanced in two lines,* the Jersey 
Brigade being the first, and becoming engaged with the 
enemy about an eighth of a mile in advance of the Tenth. The 
firing was now furious, and culminated in the repulse of the 
Jersey men, who were closely pressed by the Rebels and 
forced toward our lines. Back they came, and the Tenth 
and the balance of our brigade, that had now deployed and 
was under command of Colonel Browne, lay down that the 
retreating men might fall back over them, which was quickly 
done, and then the brigade rose up, advanced some ten rods, 
and delivered its fire full in the faces of the advancing enemy, 
flushed with a slight advantage, and following it up with an 
ardor and enthusiasm worthy a better cause. When the two 
forces met, the space of only a dooryard intervened. Unwill- 
ing to give up their vantage, the Rebels here made a desperate 
stand, and for a short time the infantry firing was hot and 
terrible. Men fell like grain cut by the reaper. Here Company 
I, on the right of the Tenth, lost its gallant first sergeant, 
Pettis, one of the bravest of brave non-commissioned officers, 
and nearly every man on the right was killed or severely 
wounded. The right of the Regiment extended out by the 
fence (which partly covered the balance of the Regiment) and 
suffered most severely, as the casualties will show. It was 
now about half-past four, and the position of the brigade from 
right to left was as follows: Second Rhode Island, Battery, 
Tenth Massachusetts, Seventh Massachusetts, o7th Massa- 
chusetts, 36th New York. The contestants at one point were 
scarcely fifty feet apart. At this juncture Colonel Browne, 
commanding the brigade, was wounded, and now its command 
devolved upon Colonel Eustis, who, partially changing the 
direction of the front, repulsed the enemy and followed them 
back to the woods from whence they came. The Tenth was 
now under command of Major Parker, who took his place 
right in front of his Regiment, and between the fire of the two 
contesting forces. "You'll get hit. Major," was called out to 



*Here began Salem Heights. 



May 3, '63 



Salem Heights 



187 



him several times by his men, but the Major, who was never 
scared in his Hfe, only responded, " Fire away, boys, fire away, 
never mind me," and kept his place there until the enemy 
retreated. The ammunition being now entirely exhausted 
and the guns foul from constant firing, the Tenth was tem- 
porarily relieved by the 122d New York, one of the best 




Two posiliuus of the Teulh in I lie Battle. 
SALEM HEIGHTS, MAY 3, '63. 

regiments in the service, whose gallant Colonel, Silas Titus, 
coming up, yelled out, "Git out o' here, you Tenth Massa- 
chusetts fellers, you've fit long enough." It was now dark 
and the action ceased. The troops rested on their arms at 
night, and guns were cleaned and a fresh stock of ammunition 
issued, as the conflict was expected to be renewed at day- 
break. The Tenth again took its place in the front line, where 
it remained all night. Details attended to the mournful and 
sad duties that follow the shock of battle, caring for the 
wounded and performing the last rites and burial of the dead. 
The reaper, Death, had been more than busy today. Tenderly 
are the dear forms laid away in the cold earth by their com- 
rades and fellow-soldiers. Wrapped in their blankets, generally 
all from one company are laid together, and their resting-place 
marked rudely and roughly, but as well as the circum- 
stances will allow. A soldier of Company I, twelve years 
afterward, says, "We felt so bad when we laid Pettis and 
Boyington and Hovey and Barry away, and poor Tony Cain 
so soon to follow. I feel sad now when I think of it." 



188 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

In the action just described, the judgment and sagacity of 
Colonel Eustis added materially to the success of the assault 
upon the works above the city. He posted batteries in, 
advantageous positions, and disposed his infantry where they 
would be most effective. He, with his staff, Captain Young, 
Lieutenant Beverege and Adjutant Brewster, were the last 
to leave the field when our forces returned to the ford. The 
following list gives the casualties: 

Company A — Wounded, Sergeant Alfred F. Couch, head, 
slight; Corp. Patrick O'Brien, leg, severe; James Cormick, 
foot, slight; George A. Barber, leg, severe; Henry Banker, 
shoulder, mortally; Thomas Pugh, leg, severe; James Cahill, 
leg, severe; Luman Dennis, leg, severe. 

Company B — Wounded, John Wallace, arm, severe; John 
Reilly, back, severe; Francis Walker, hand, severe. 

Company C — Killed, Corporal Constant E. Bannerot. 
Wounded, Josiah Thayer, arm, mortally. 

Company D — Killed, John Donovan. Wounded, First 
Serg. Michael Hogan, both legs, mortally; James Finnican, 
hand, severe; Thomas G. Larkin, leg, severe; Jerry Green, 
hand, slight; Charles Dunbar, thigh, severe. 

Company E — Wounded, Corp. James Wm. Turner, ankle, 
slight; Charles M. Hall, breast and side, mortally; Edmond 
Dunphy, jaw, severe; Dwight E. Bassett, left arm, severe; 
James Walsh, leg, slight. 

Company F — Killed, Silas L. Putnam. Wounded, Lieut. 
Terry S. Noble, hand, severe; James H. Burbank, leg, severe; 
Henry M. Chapin, arm, slight; Henry M. Jones, leg, severe. 

Company G — Kihed, Corp. Dwight E. Armstrong, William 
Ryther. Wounded, Charles G. Blodgett, leg, severe; Oliver 
M. Keyes, hand, slight; Henry Dewey, foot, severe; William 
C. Marvel, leg, severe; Francis Williams, leg, severe; William 
H. Scott, leg, severe; Alpheus B. Parker, face, slight; Chris- 
topher Megrath, neck, severe. 

Company H — Killed, Jacob Riedel. Wounded, Capt. Flavel 
Shurtleff, neck, severe; Corp. Otis B. Wood, breast, severe; 
Charles F. Powers, head, severe; John W. Hersey, foot, slight; 

Company I — Killed, First Serg. Amos Pettis, Jr., H. J. 
Boyington, Charles E. Hovey, John Barry. Wounded, Sergt. 
PhiHp Hyde, leg. slight; Corp. Charles F. Tower, arm, severe. 
Corp. Stephen W. Read, leg, severe; Corp. David B. Nye, 
leg, severe; James Livingston, leg, slight; Dwight O. Judd, 
thigh, severe; Anthony Cain, leg, mortally; Gustavus W. 
Peabody, arm, severe; Charles L. Hartwell. breast, severe; 



May 3, '63 Marye's Heights 189 

John E. Casey; Fred H. Crockett, hand, severe; Charles 
Decie, leg, severe. 

Company K— Wounded, Corp. Charles L. Knight, leg, 
sHght; Corp. John Beaumont, head, severe; Anson J. Collier, 
arm, severe; William G. Lay, leg, severe; Henry C. Bates, 
thigh, severe; James Dinneen, thigh, severe. 

Total— Killed, 10. Wounded, 56. 

All the new officers of the Regiment behaved with gallantry. 
Two commissioned officers were hit ; Captain Flavel Shurtleff 
was dangerously wounded by a bullet through the neck, and 
Lieut. Terry S. Noble had his right thumb shot off. The 
brave First^Serg. Amos Pettis, of Company I, was instantly 
killed at the right of his company, which, as previously stated, 
held the post of honor on the right of the Regiment, and 
suffered more than any other company. During the night 
the enemy turned our left flank and retook the heights which 
commanded the city, leaving us in an exposed position, with 
only one avenue of escape. 

That part of the battle on the 3d of May, wherein Marye's 
Heights, then commanded by Barksdale, were assailed and 
carried, is sometimes referred to as the Second Battle of 
Fredericksburg. The general reader who is well versed in 
his story of the breaking of the ranks of the Eleventh Corps, 
the death of '" Stonewall" Jackson and Keenan's Charge 
searches in vain for any mention of the Sixth Corps in the 
great battle, yet he says, "The Corps of the Greek cross won 
imperishable renown on this day, but where?" If he reads 
deeply enough and long enough he will find the reason for the 
apparent omission. We have seen Sedgwick and his corps 
gradually deserted by the other army corps until only the 
Sixth and Gibbon's Division of the Second were left at the 
extreme Union left to maintain and advance. It is true that 
our Corps had no part in the terrible events of May 2d, when, 
flanking Hooker, Jackson burst upon the Union Army Hke 
a tempest blast, where Devens was severely wounded and 
where he is reported to have said that he would not give his 
old brigade for the whole Eleventh Corps, nor yet with the 
glorious death of Keenan when the rout was stayed, nor 
indeed with any portion of the death-dealing deeds on the 



190 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

Federal right, yet the part borne by the Sixth Corps on the 
3d formed one of the brightest pages in the whole progress 
of the war. Ordered to cross and recross. to advance and 
attack, to form a union with forces many miles away, orders 
conflicting and even impossible of obeying, yet the grand 
man at the head of the Corps so disposed his men, so fought 
them and, eventually, so brought them out of their dangerous 
situation that, to his dying day, they wanted no more reliable 
leader than the trusted, modest, indefatigable Sedgwick. 

It would be interesting to pause and go with those gallant 
men up the steeps of Marye, succeeding where Burnside, at 
such infinite cost, failed; but, while the Seventh Massachusetts 
and the 36th New York of our brigade were here, this was 
not the point where the grand sacrifice of the Tenth was made. 
Some writers have said that at this point was won the crown- 
ing glory of the Greek cross wearers, but ice are to pass along 
to a later hour in that dreadful day. While a thousand pris- 
oners were taken here and those not captured were fleeing 
and in the wildest panic, and the plain to the westward was 
filled with disordered troops, there was not a cavalryman to 
help on the confusion. The enemy was flying on opposite 
roads and a Sheridan or a Kilpatrick would have wrought 
wonders here. Our Third Division had accomplished much, 
but wearied by the extreme heat, the burden of rations and 
ammunition, and the loss of sleep, was allowed to rest a while 
and many were soon sound asleep. However, it was only a 
brief halt, for soon the First Division led on and the Third 
and Second followed. 

Four miles away was Salem Church, a brick edifice placed 
on a ridge, surrounded by a dense growth of woods and 
undergrowth. The many ravines leading down to the river 
rendered the pursuit difficult, but at this point the enemy 
was reinforced by four fresh brigades from Lee's forces in 
front of Hooker and further retreat on the Confederate part 
was stayed. Brooks and his First Division formed on the left 
of the road, Ne\\^on with the Third Division on the right, 
and the fight at once became severe and was raged with vary- 



May 4, '63 Sedgwick's Report 191 

ing success. The part borne by the Tenth has been described 
already ; the enemy pressed back the Union hne and held the 
church, our loss being above 1,500 men in killed and wounded. 
All through that long and dreary Sunday, we were expecting 
that the sound of our artillery would be the signal for Hooker 
to attack and that no help could be sent from Lee to aid those 
opposed to us, but we listened in vain; our comrades at 
Chancellorsville were intrenching. All that night of the 3d 
the Sixth Corps was under arms; Lee was marching with his 
army to the destruction of Sedgwick, leaving only Jackson's 
forces to oppose those of Hooker. During that night long lines 
of breastworks were thrown up, Marye's Heights were again 
occupied and all the successes of the day were not only lost 
but, seemingly, the Corps itself was at the mercy of the foe. 
Describing the situation. General Sedgwick in his report of 
the campaign, (R. R. Series I, Vol. XXV, Part I, p. 560) says: 

The following morning (4th), at an early hour, I was in- 
formed that a column of the enemy, 15,000 strong, coming 
from the direction of Richmond, had occupied the heights 
of Fredericksburg, cutting off my communication with the 
town. Expecting a movement of this kind, I had already 
■formed Howe's Division in line of battle to the rear. General 
Howe promptly extended his left to the river, and admirably 
checked an effort of the enemy to cut us off from Banks's Ford, 
v^^here a pontoon bridge had been laid the day previous. In 
this aft'air he captured two hundred prisoners and a battle flag. 

While these things were occurring on my left, I received a 
dispatch from the major general commanding, informing me 
that he had contracted his lines ; that I must look well to the 
safety of my corps, preserve my communications with Fred- 
ericksburg and Banks's Ford, and suggesting that I fall back 
upon the former place, or recross, in preference, at Banks's 
Ford, where I could communicate more readily with the 
main body. To fall back upon Fredericksburg was out of the 
question. To adopt the other alternative, except under 
cover of the night, was equally so, for the enemy still main- 
tained his position on Salem Heights, and was threatening my 
flank and rear from the direction of Fredericksburg. My 
line was formed with the left resting on the river, about 
midway between Fredericksburg and Banks's Ford, thence 



192 Thk Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

extending slightlv beyond the plank road, when it turned at 
right angles to the right, following the direction of the plank 
rolid for a mile, and then again turning to the right at right 
angles, and reci-ossing the plank road in front of Salem Heights, 
my right resting where it had been placed in the engagement 
of the previous evening. A Hne of battle of such length was 
necessarilv weak, yet to contract it would inevitably provoke 
immediate attack from vastly superior forces. * * * 

Thus, fronting in three directions, I was compelled to 
await attack, determined to hold the position until dark and 
then fall back on Banks's Ford. A dispatch from the major 
general commanding had informed me that he could not 
relieve me. as he was in a position in which he hoped to be 
attacked, and that he was too far away to direct my opera- 
tions. Subsequent dispatches directed me to hold a position 
on the right bank of the river until the following morning. 
During the day there was more or less skirmishing on the entire 
front, and in the evening a most determined attack was made 
upon Howe's line, for the purpose of cutting our communi- 
cation with the river, and at the same time Brooks was 
attacked further along toward the right. The attack on 
Brooks was readily repulsed, chiefly by the skirmish line and 
the firing by the battery of McCartney's (First Massachusetts) 
Battery. That on How^e was of a more determined character, 
being made en (?c/x£'/o;z of battalions and in columns. * * 

As soon at it was dark. Newton's and Brooks's Divisions, 
with the Light Brigade, fell rapidly back upon Banks's Ford, 
and took position on the heights in that neighborhood and in 
the rifle pits. When these movements were completed Howe 
was directed to fall back, and at once abandoned his position 
and moved to the river, taking position on Newton's right. 

The remainder of the report describes the crossing of the 
troops on the 5th, beginning the movement at 2.00 a. m., and 
has commendatory remarks concerning the ofticers and men 
whom he had led. In the list of worthy leaders is the name of 
Colonel Eustis who commanded the Brigade after the wound- 
ing of Colonel Browne of the 36th New York. Stevens in 
his narrative of the Sixth Corps says : 

The Corps had passed through a fearful ordeal and had 
shown itself to be made of heroic material. No two more 
brilliant feats had been performed during the war than the 
storming of the heights of Fredericksburg and the splendid 



May 4, '63 Baxk's Ford 193 

resistance, when surrounded and attacked by overwhelming 
forces, the men came out of the fight not demoraHzed, but as 
ready to scale those terrible heights again, if called upon, as 
they had been on the 3d of May. 

General Sedgwick had manifested, during the fights, those 
masterly qualities which made him one of the greatest soldiers 
of the age. His conduct on the retreat was cool and unim- 
passioned. Personally examining every part of the ground 
in front and rear, riding from one end of the line to the other, 
now ordering a battery to be placed at some commanding 
point, and now looking out a new position to which his troops 
might fall back in case of necessity, he was everywhere 
present, full of energy, as determined to save as he had been 
to win. 

Swinton summarizes the total losses in the campaign as 
10,281 for the Confederates and 17,197 killed, wounded and 
missing for the Union forces. We left behind our killed and 
wounded, fourteen pieces of artillery and 20,000 stand of 
arms. Of the conduct of Sedgwick, the same writer remarks, 
"His brilliant exploit in carrying the Fredericksburg Heights 
and his subsequent fortitude in a trying situation, shine out 
as the one relieving brightness amid the gloom of that hapless 
battle." 

Returning to the Regiment on Monday, the 4th, we find 
Company K, Captain Johnson, detailed to strengthen the 
picket line and when the darkness covered the movement, 
the retreat towards Banks's Ford began. In two hours' time 
the river was reached. Here we covered the retreat of the 
artillery while the enemy shelled us at long range, doing very 
little harm, however. Beginning at 2.00 a. m. of the 5th, the 
brigade and the rest of the Corps were over in about two 
hours, and though harassed in crossing, and though occasion- 
ally sought by a hostile shell, during the da}' every man felt 
himself in a Quaker meeting as compared with the alarms of 
the preceding forty-eight hours and more. Our batteries 
apparently did not think it worth while to reply. Soon after, 
the army returned to its long-time station opposite Freder- 
icksburg, the Sixth Corps being at the left and somewhat 
in the rear of its former location and here, for the 8th, this 



194 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

record is found, "Moved into camp near the one occupied all 
winter." The next day many of the wounded who had been 
held in Fredericksburg were brought to the river's side and 
were sent over under a flag of truce, and thence they were 
sent to Potomac Creek or to Washington. Sunday and the 
10th coincide and the words of a Franklin County minister 
seemed soothing after the uproar of the past week ; the weather 
was warm and pleasant. The Regiment had a warm welcome 
for Lieutenant Colonel Parsons who returned to the camp on 
the 11th, having been away on sick leave. The story of the 
campaign can close in no better way than by giving entire the 
letter from Division Commander Newton to Governor Andrew : 

Headquarters Third Division, Sixth Army Corps, 

Office of Adjutant General, May 15th, 1863 
His Excellency John A. Andrew, Governor of Massachusetts: 

Sir: Permit me to call your attention to the excellent 
conduct of the Massachusetts regiments under my command, 
during the late operations of the Sixth Corps. 

The Seventh Massachusetts stormed the heights of Freder- 
icksburg in column without firing a shot, and suffered severely. 
To Lieutenant Colonel Harlow, who commanded the regiment 
after the wounding of Colonel Johns, I mainly attribute this 
fortunate result. Colonel Harlow proved himself a hero. 
As this was a charge not exceeded in brilliancy and daring by 
any operations of the war, the Seventh ought to receive 
adequate praise. 

The Tenth and Thirty-Seventh, although under fire in Fred- 
ericksburg on the morning of May 3d. rendered their principal 
services in the afternoon and the following day at Salem 
Heights. 

Their coolness under fire and admirable discipline, merit 
the warmest acknowledgments. The Tenth was under the 
command of Major Parker, during the most important period 
of their operations. Col. H. L. Eustis having command of the 
brigade. 

The conduct of all these regiments, at such critical juncture, 
has been an ample return for all the care bestowed by Your 
Excellency and the state upon their organization and discipline. 

I have the honor to be your obedient servant, 

John Newton, Major General 



May 15-30, '63 Falmouth 195 

FALMOUTH 

The remainder of May was hardly more than a round of 
drills, inspections and reviews, the first named being resumed 
by orders from brigade headquarters on the 15th. With the 
18th came inspection and later a review by General Sedgwick. 
Not all the men sent to the hospital enjoyed the stay there 
and a Company H man writes in his diary of his calling on 
the surgeon for a dismissal to his Regiment, which he 
obtained, but failed to receive a pass to ride on the cars; 
somewhat roiled thereat, the plucky fellow, though wounded in 
his foot, on the 3d walked back and limped into camp about 
2.00 p. m. The same disposition was manifested by Colonel 
Browne of the 36th New York who threatened to shoot the 
surgeon who started to amputate his wounded leg, the 
doughty Colonel saying, "I came here to have my leg treated, 
not cut off." May 2od, Company K became the color com- 
pany, an honor of course, but carrying with it a deal of com- 
pensation. To keep the men busy all hands were set at work 
turnpiking the company streets and in that way they knew 
just how hot it was. About the same time, the 25th, the men 
brought in poles and branches and constructed leafy arbors 
on each side of their respective streets. To "slick up" seems 
to be one of the inherent traits in the average American. 

June, the loveHest of months, found the Army of the Potomac 
still encamped on the banks of the Rappahannock. The rest 
obtained since the arduous campaign of three weeks before had 
renewed the energy and determination of the men and they 
were ready for the orders which were soon to come. The abid- 
ing place of the Tenth was known as "Camp Eustis" in honor 
of the Colonel who was still at the head of the brigade. The 
boys were as happy as they well could be under the circum- 
stances and were nothing awed when, at three o'clock on the 
morning of the 4th, orders came to pack up and be ready to 
march at once. Hardly had the first part of the command 
been obeyed when they were directed to take arms and 
equipments and to fall in, but when Hne was formed and 



196 The Tenth MAssArnrsETTs Infantry 

guns stacked we not only had time to cook breakfast but to 
remain here all day and night, a condition of affairs which 
had quite a natural appearance. Friday, the 5th, however, 
there was a forward move and for the third time within six 
months, we were to cross the Rappahannock under fire. 
Howe's Division (First) of the Sixth Corps led the way; 
crossing the river in boats under a severe fire, and driving the 
enemy's skirmishers nearly a mile, they captured about two 
hundred prisoners without the loss of a man. Meanwhile 
the pontoon bridge was laid, as of old, at Franklin's Crossing 
and the remainder of the Division hurried over to the assist- 
ance of the brigade which had opened the way. It was the 
lot of the Tenth to be under arms all day, but not to march. 
On the morning of the 6th, the Tenth broke camp and moved 
down to the river. Only an occasional sharpshooter of the 
enemy, concealed in the houses, disturbed the quiet of the 
morning. 

This June activity was wholly incident to the desire of 
Hooker to learn just what his opponent, General Lee, was 
doing. Rumor had it that Lee was contemplating another 
expedition northward, for certainly there were unusual 
movements across the river and on the heights, and not only 
was Pleasanton sent on an errand of discovery, but Sedgwick 
was commanded to cross the Rappahannock and still further 
explore the mysteiy. It was this exploration in which we 
were then taking part. At 6.00 p. m., June 7th, Brooks's 
(Second) Division crossed and relieved Howe's troops, so 
long at the front. Observing this movement, the enemy, 
evidently expecting an attack, began firing on our skirmishers, 
but a fire from our batteries soon sent them back to the cover 
of the woods. McCartney's Battery then turned its guns 
upon a brick house behind which the Rebels were posting a 
battery, compelling them to limber up and retire. Had they 
succeeded in getting their guns in position they would have 
used up Howe's Division. At eight o'clock a detail of a 
thousand men from the Second Brigade, Third Division, was 
sent over and among them were seven companies of the Tenth 



June 8, "63 Fredericksburg 197 

Regiment. Reaching the other side, they were furnished 
with picks and shovels and were led out in front of the line 
of battle where they were set to work digging rifle pits and 
breastworks for the artillery. All the time we could hear 
the strains of band music from the Rebel camp, though it 
was not loud enough to drown the rumbhng of baggage wagons 
and artillery within their lines. 

The dav was Sunday and one usually taken for a fight, but 
this time neither side appeared extremely anxious. The 
Confederates soon divined that our movement was not one 
meaning the assault of their works, so they watched us and 
we in turn observed them. We were so near that exchange of 
civilities was possible and soon the boys on both sides got to 
trading papers, coffee, etc., as usual. This was interdicted, 
however, by the officers at headquarters. June Sth revealed 
a line of rifle pits a mile long as a result of the previous night's 
digging. Men were sent over to cut down the trees along the 
river's bank and around the Bernard house. The Rebel 
sharpshooters who during the day had inflicted some loss on 
our men were dispersed by a few well-directed shots from 
McCartney's Battery. The 9th was a prolongation of the 
day before, with a revelation of more rifle pits, the destruction 
of more trees along the side of the river and the continued 
work of the sharpshooters. The case of the latter, however, 
was well attended to by the appearance of about two hundred 
members of Berdan's Sharpshooters and it was all up with 
the Johnnies, so far as shooting was concerned. At six 
of the afternoon, there was a play of artillery on both sides 
with nothing serious resulting. 

At 6.30 p. m., June 10th, the Regiment went across the 
river and relieved the 98th New York on the skirmish line. 
We were fired on as we deployed and the firing continued 
until we reached the line, Alpheus B. Parker of Company G 
being severely wounded there. After dark we were enter- 
tained by the enemy who from their exalted camps treated 
us to vocal and instrumental music. Among their tunes we 
recognized "The Lone Starry Hours," and "The Cottage by 



198 The Tenth Massachusetts Ixfaxtry 

the Sea." Several northern ladies visiting our camps allowed 
their curiosity to tempt them to the front, just for a sight of 
the boys in gray. On the 11th we were relieved and fell back 
to the rifle pits as a reserve. It was interesting to note how 
completely Berdan's men silenced the sharpshooters of the 
enemy. They didn't dare show their heads above the breast- 
works. The following day, packing up at 6.00 a. m., we moved 
down behind the lower Bernard house and lay there till eight 
in the evening, when we again entered the rifle pits at the left 
of our line, one-fourth of the men being on dutv at a time. 
The 13th brought an end of the duty across the river, though 
during the long day we stood ready to receive an attack from 
the foe who evidently was in motion. A thick cloud of dust 
at 9.00 a. m. revealed what proved to be the marching of a 
heavy column of Lee's troops tow^ards our right. At night 
came a heavy thunder shower, under cover of which all of 
the troops were withdrawn to the Union side of the stream 
and the bridge was taken up, our Regiment going over at 
about eleven o'clock. Our three days' stay across the river 
had not been a picnic, the period being one uninterrupted 
series of digging, skirmishing or watching. Rest was what 
we now needed most. 

NORTHWARD 

Before nine on the morning of the 14th the last of the pickets 
were across, the pontoons were up and the tired men were 
permitted to rest until the middle of the afternoon when we 
were up and off again, this time to Stafford Court House_ 
getting there at about five o'clock, and there we expected to 
pass the night, but that the army was on the march was soon 
evident, for at ten we were roused and started along in con- 
junction with baggage and artillery trains. Stevens says of 
that night's march: 

Our corps being rear guard, started at ten o'clock at night. 
The darkness was intense and a thunder shower prevailed. 
Our route for a long time lay through a thick woods, where 
the branches of the trees, meeting over our heads, shut out 



June 14, '63 Northward 199 

the little light that might have penetrated the thunder clouds, 
and the column was shut in perfect darkness. The roads 
were terribly muddy, and the batteries which were trying to 
pass over the same route were frequently stuck in the mire. 
Our men stumbled over stones and fallen trees, often falling 
beneath the feet of the horses. Men fell over logs and stones, 
breaking their arms and legs. Thus we continued the hasty 
and difficult march, while the rain poured in torrents upon us. 
Later in the night the road became more open and the x-ain 
ceased. The darkness was not so black, still it was difficult 
to see the road. We were passing over corduroy; some of the 
logs were a foot, and others a foot and a half through. They 
were slippery from the rain, and the men, heavily laden with 
knapsacks, guns and cartridges, tumbled headlong, many of 
them going off at the side, and rolling far down the steep 
embankments. 

After such a night it was discouraging to find that not more 
than five miles of progress had been made. Had a soldier 
asked his neighbor as to the destination of the expedition, 
very likely that party would have said, "I don't know and 
I'm dashed if I believe anybody does." At any rate that 
was usually the condition of the enlisted men, and for that 
matter, of a large portion of the commissioned officers. Not 
even General Hooker, at that time, could have told what the 
ultimate aim was nor just what he was going to do. Possibly 
that Fate who from all creatures hides the future, might have 
whispered that already the letters were beginning to spell 
Gettysburg. The Confederate commander with a confidence 
born of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville had determined 
to take the initiative, and once more give the North a taste 
of the realities of warfare, so long visited upon the South. 
He had long been beset by a large number of hot-headed 
leaders who were anxious that the theatre of war should be 
transferred to northern soil. In conformity with these 
demands and his own plans, as early as the 3d of June he had 
sent a part of Longstreet's Corps on its way to Culpeper Court 
House. On the 4th and 5th, Ewell's Corps took the same 
direction, leaving only A. P. Hill's to look after the beleagured 
city. Realizing that something unusual was stirring in the 



200 The Tenth Massachusetts Infaxtry 

Rebel camps, General Hooker had ordered the crossing by 
the Sixth Corps on the 6th, with the result that Sedgwick 
discovered that the enemy was apparently there in force. 
Hooker was still in ignorance of the departure of the Confed- 
erates on the 8th, when they were massing at Culpeper. 
Stuart's Cavalry was already there, before the main move- 
ment began, so Hooker determined to send his whole mounted 
array to break up Stuart's force. The outcome of this move 
was the famous engagement of Brandy Station, which many 
a cavalryman will always insist was really the most spirited 
encounter of the war. Its chief result, however, was the 
revelation of Lee's presence in force at Culpeper and the 
disclosure, through captured correspondence, of the contem- 
plated invasion. 

At that moment, June 13th, while the Union Army was 
still at Falmouth, Lee's forces were stretching from Freder- 
icksburg where Hill was, through Culpeper, where we find 
Longstreet, to Front Royal, the entrance of the Shenandoah 
Valley, with Ewell driving all before him. Were this book a 
philosophical discussion of the war and its development, it 
would be well to dwell here on what oitglii to have been done, 
but as this is not our province, we confine ourselves rather 
to what was really done. It was the information thus obtained 
which hurried the Union troops away from the Falmouth 
camps on the 13th, leaving to the Sixth Corps the labor of 
guarding the rear. In departing from the camps and hospitals 
of more than half a year's stay, there was the usual amount 
of necessary destruction of property, lest the same fall into 
the hands of the enemy. The waste of war is always glaringly 
apparent at such times; bedding, glass and earthenware, 
instruments and medicines, with all sorts of cooking utensils, 
were dumped into the common conflagration and destroyed. 
Yet, with so much thrown away, there was enough left to load 
the baggage trains, which, if placed in a single line would 
have extended seventy miles. 

The roads were better on the march of the 15th, our route 
extending to Dumfries, where we arrived at about 11.00 a. m. 



June 15-21, '63 Northavard 201 

and halted for rest. The day was terribly hot and the long 
stay in camp had unfitted the men for long and hurried 
marching, hence the amount of straggling was unusual and 
the footsore victims, when they did come up were pitiable 
objects. The hardships of that day are yet discussed by the 
survivors. Some have said that it was the most trying- 
march of the Army of the Potomac. The ambulances were 
soon filled with men who were sunstruck or near it; every 
available bit of shade was seized upon; nor was the falling 
out confined to men from the ranks, since the fierce rays of 
the sun beat right through shoulder straps that, in some cases,, 
bore eagles upon them. The sight was appalling, but still 
the march was onward. The start, on the 16th, was made 
at two o'clock in the morning to escape some of the midday 
iieat, reaching Wolf Run Ford on the Occoquan at 11.00 a. m. 
where we enjo\^ed a rest of two hours; thence we proceeded 
to Fairfax Station, eighteen miles from Alexandria on the 
Virginia Midland Railroad, where there was a halt of two 
nights and a day. During that day's march Private Newson 
of Company I was overcome by the heat and was unconscious- 
for some time. After a full day's rest at the station, on the 
morning of the 18th, the brigade moved up to the Court 
House of Fairfax County where the men began to get the 
rumors of Lee's northward raid. The balloon corps had been 
broken up, the air ships sent to Washington and the men 
returned to the Regiment. Before leaving. Lieutenant Kaul- 
bach, who had been very active in the observation squad, was- 
presented by the men under his command w^th a fine sword,^ 
sash and belt in testimony of their respect and esteem. 

Some Rebel prisoners were brought in on the 19th, the 
Regiment was inspected and orders arrived to be ready to 
move at a minute's notice, yet we remained here over the 20th 
and, on the 21st, our regimental birthday, we made only a 
very short change of a quarter of a mile to a better location. 
At the same time there was no repose in our vicinity. The 
Second Division, with our cavalry, moved out on the 20th; 
cannonading was heard from the direction of Bull Run, more 



202 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

prisoners were brought in and the weather was rainy and 
muggy. Reveille at five o'clock on the 22d was an agreeable 
sound, the first time we had heard it since leaving Falmouth. 
To secure a proper amount of water, digging was resorted to. 
An unusual order was received on the 23d to the effect that 
a detail of 125 men was wanted from the Tenth Regiment 
to guard a valuable commissary train from Manassas Junction 
to Gainesville. The men felt the requisition a compliment 
for the duty was important and dangerous, this being the 
first time such a train had tried to pass over the route in 
seven months. There was a halt at the junction, in view of 
two large pieces of apparent artillery, but under the combined 
attack of the quartermaster and some contrabands, the guns 
were found to be Quakers and the train passed on unharmed. 
While in constant expectation of guerrilla attacks, the desti- 
nation was reached without molestation. On this day came 
one of those possibilities of army life, necessary but sad. 
Robert Kernan of Company A, having proved himself a 
worthless fellow, being in the guard house a large part of the 
time, and having been dishonorably discharged, on the 23d 
was drummed out of camp. 

On the afternoon of the 24th, our brigade marched out to 
Centreville, relieving Hays's brigade of the 22d Corps to which 
had been entrusted the care and defense of Washington. The 
relieved brigade comprised the 111th, 125th, 126th and the 
39th New York, the latter being known as the Garibaldi 
Guards, and all four organizations were among the surrend- 
ered troops at Harper's Ferry in September, 1862. They at 
once marched northward and became a part of the Second 
Corps. We moved into their places with the expectation that 
we were to remain a while and look after the fortifications. 
Vain hope; nothing so mild as this was in reserve for us! We 
did halt over the 25th but in a rain storm. Before 3.00 a. m. 
of the 26th, we were roused, and told that there was only half 
an hour for packing, eating and starting, yet it was seven 
o'clock before we got under our burdens and advanced. We 
had been near enough to daily papers to know that Lee's 



June 27, '63 Edward's Ferry 203 

amiy had been doing no end of damage to the country north 
of us; we knew that his cavalry had sacked Chambersburg, 
Pa., and that the Keystone State was in a complete panic, 
her Capital being entrenched and that Philadelphia stood in 
mortal dread of the Confederates; hence he would not have 
been a very good Yankee who did not guess that our hurried 
action, on this inclement morning, had something to do with 
the stress to the northward. 

The day was w^et and uncomfortable, the rain constant and 
drizzhng, the pace a brisk one, and again the men were unable 
to endure the exactions and at roll call it was found that 
many had fallen out. About 1.00 p. m. we passed Herndon's 
Station on the Alexandria and Leesburg R. R. and at five 
o'clock reached Drainesville, having made about seventeen 
miles. That night's rest was very enjoyable to our soldiers, 
hurrying thus to reHeve the nation's peril, yet of its imminent 
character few were then aware. Up at four on the morning 
of the 27th and marching till noon, we reached Edward's 
Ferry and formed battle line, remaining thus until 4.30 p. m. 
Though few, if anv, were aware of the fact, this wait w^as very 
near the point where the great Federal disaster of Ball's 
Bluff took place on October 21st, 1861, when the 15th and 
20th Massachusetts were so badly cut up. A considerable 
part of the Union forces crossed the river at this very point. 
Crossing the Potomac on pontoon bridges, we w^ere once more 
in "Maryland, My Maryland," not having had a chance to 
view her placid features since we gave up our winter quarters 
at Bright wood, more than a year before. 

We were not averse to leaving behind us the weed-grown 
and battle-scan-ed soil of the Old Dominion, glad to see some- 
thing that looked more Hke home. We were within two miles 
of Poolesville when we filed into a field of clover, threw our 
wearied selves upon the inviting bed and sought rest and sleep. 
It was ordered that we were to respect private property and 
no fences w^ere to be taken for fuel, but a concession was made 
to those hungry men who must have fuel for cooking their 
coffee, that they might take the top rail of the inviting zig- 



^04 The Tenth Massachusetts Ixfaxtry 

zags. A constant taking of said top rail soon caused the 
farmers' divisions to disappear. To the Tenth Regiment on 
the 28th, was given the important duty of serving as rear 
guard for the Corps. Like most honors it cost something, for 
while the right of the Corps halted at New Market at about 
six in the afternoon, \\e did not get there until past midnight, 
having passed through Poolesville, Monocacy, Barnesville, 
around Sugar Loaf Mountain, through Hvattstown to near 
Monrovia, thus realizing what a Sabbath day's journey might 
mean, since this long day was Sunday. At Barnesville, some 
of the Corps were gladdened by the sound of a church bell, and 
finding the edifice near, some ventured in and were pleased 
to hear the priest, for it was a Catholic church, pray for the 
President and peace. It was at Hyattstown that the super- 
sedure of General Hooker by Meade on that very day was 
learned, and "know-it-all" tongues wagged vigorously for a 
while, many thinking that the activity and tactics of the 
former deserved a better fate, but the brisk marching pro- 
ceeded just the same. 

The 29th carried us through Monrovia and New Market 
where the exhibition of Union sentiment was a gladsome sight 
to loyal eyes. Ladies waved the dear old flag and supplied 
us with water and other necessities as they could. The entire 
brigade was in the rear of the Corps, and a heavy rain was 
falling, impeding us seriously, so it was midnight when we 
reached camp near Westminster. The last day of June was 
rainy, like the 29th, and necessarily slow. It was noon before 
we reached Westminster whence the rear guard of the enemy 
had been driven that very morning. It was here and on this 
day that our old friends of the 36th New York left us, their 
two years' enlistment having expired. The two regiments 
had been most intimate ever since their being brigaded 
together at Brightwood. They had fought side by side and 
each had the confidence of the other. We did not know that 
their time was up, so there were no good-byes as we marched 
on and they fell out, to go thence to Baltimore and so home. 
One of our Company D men, visiting a house, found there 



July 1, '63 Forced March 205 

one of Stuart's cavalry and at once made him prisoner. We 
were not permitted to go into the town, a guard being placed 
around the brigade. After a short halt for dinner we pushed 
forward to within a mile and a half of Manchester, Md., where 
we encamped in a piece of woods and were mustered for two 
months' pay- 

In the last four days, in the hottest of weather, much of 
the time in the midst of heavy rain, we had marched a hundred 
miles. We were twenty miles from the left of the Union 
Army and were on the extreme right. We were between 
the Confederates and Baltimore and that first day of July we 
were resting while our comrades were fighting at Gettysburg. 
The First, Eleventh and Twelfth Corps were already making 
history, and had we known, our tired feehngs would have 
disappeared in the thought that we should be up and away 
to their rehef ; but we rested until eight in the evening, when 
there came to our ears the words, "Pack up and fall in 
immediately." Never was the well-known order obeyed more 
quickly. We were many miles away and the distance was to 
be covered in the quickest time possible. To begin with, an 
error in route was made and we had gone four miles in the 
wrong direction before this was learned, and so we counter- 
marched; but think of the time lost in marching eight miles 
when the fate of a nation was at stake! The amenities as 
well as the asperities of hard service are remembered, and a 
Company H man recalls with unvarying gratitude the drink 
Major Parker gave him from his canteen, the same being 
considerably stronger than aqua pura. "I guess a taste of 
this will make you feel better" were the words of the really 
kind-hearted officer as he noted the exhausted appearance 
of the private. All that long night the weary march con- 
tinued; there was a halt of ten minutes for breakfast, then 
on again. On the way we learned of the fight of the preceding 
day where the First Corps was engaged and of the death of 
Reynolds, and what news we got was far from encouraging, 
yet we marched with all the more speed because of the 
seeming- need. 



206 The Tenth Massachusetts Ixfaxtrv 

GETTYSBURG 

The dav was bright and hot and the men strove to keep 
their ranks but occasionally one fell out from sheer exhaustion, 
to follow on more slowly as he regained his strength. The 
people along the road wxre kindness itself and those of Little- 
town will never be forgotten for the citizens were already 
caring for the wounded from the field and distributing water 
as we hurried by. At last the Valley of Death was visible, 
revealed beneath the smoke of the battle which thousands 
were waging so fiercely. The afternoon of July 2d was well 
spent w^hen we arrived with a record of thirty-four miles in 
considerably less than twenty-four hours. There were yet 
marching and countermarching enough before us to bring 
the day's registry up to very near forty miles. Here must 
have begun the record of the Sixth Corps whereby it grew 
to be called the "Foot Cavalry of the Potomac Army." 
Walter S. Goss of Company A, Seventh Massachusetts, in a 
chapter of his regimental history gives the following descrip- 
tion of the close of this eventful day : 

As the tired divisions of the Sixth Corps are resting in 
columns by brigade, there comes word from our beloved 
commander, Sedgwick, "Tell General Eustis to bring his 
brigade to the front at once." Almost as by magic they spring 
to their feet with a cheer upon their lips. These tired, hungry, 
footsore men spring forward at the word of command, and 
swing into line on the double quick. Readers and friends, 
can pen say more? After marching over forty miles through 
clouds of dust, through streams of water, and over rocky 
roadbeds, in a dark and sultry July night, stifling and de- 
pressing, they spring forward at the word with all their ancient 
vigor and zeal, ready to dare and die. As General Longstreet 
in his Century article upon the Battle of Gettysburg, says, 
"Preparing for another attack upon the Federal lines, I rode 
forward to the front of our position; but seeing the enemy 
rapidly forming new lines of battle with fresh troops, I thought 
it prudent to desist from attack until our lines had been 
reformed and were more compact, having sufiiered very 
severely in the assaults upon the Union lines." Yes, there 
they stood, the brigades of the Sixth Corps, firm, resolute, 
with not fifty stragglers in the whole number, ready to die 



July S, "63 Gettysbx rg 207 

for the maintenance of our institutions and for the repulse of 
the hosts of treason. * * * jsjq more rapid and 

indomitable march is recorded in any war. It ranks with 
Stonewall Jackson's rapid movements. It shows the disci- 
pline, the nerve, the soldierly qualities of its men, and it shows 
in the soldier-patriot, Gen. John Sedgwick, the qualities of 
great, comprehensive and correct military judgment. * 
* * We were not called upon to die amidst the flash 
of rifles, the hiss of the shell, or plunging shot; but we were 
summoned to render all the service that lay in our power. 
As time rolls on, the Sixth Corps at Gettysburg will be remem- 
bered, not as Grouchy at Waterloo, but as Desaix at Marengo; 
Little Round Top was saved by the foresight of Warren, the 
Martvr, and the timely arrival of the Fifth and Sixth Corps; 
and in the advance of time, Eustis and his brigade can claim 
their share in the glory so gallantly won by all the Army 
Corps at Gettysburg. 

Lest it should be thought that undue praise is given to our 
own or Eustis's Brigade, it should be said that Shaler's (First) 
was also ordered forward with ours and it formed immediately 
in our rear. Moreover, Neill's Brigade of the Second Division 
was sent to the right to the relief of Slocum, commanding the 
Twelfth Corps. Newell 's account of the struggle is meagre, 
though he states that Sergt. A. C. Phillips of Company E was 
hit in the breast by a rifle ball, the wound proving mortal, 
he dying the October following. Sargent of Company K, tells 
his story briefly but pointedly: 

About five o'clock word came to us to repoi't at "Little 
Round Top" as soon as possible. We could hear them firing 
pretty sharply. We went on the double quick, loading our 
guns as we went. When we got there we found that our men 
on the left were getting the worst of it. We went in and the 
Rebs soon went back. We had one man killed and two 
wounded: one of them was Captain Barton. He was shot 
through the thigh but would not leave the field tmtil the 
fight was over for the night." 

The duties of the Sixth Corps on the 3d day were still in the 
way of reserve, necessitating a deal of marching from point 
to point, where services were needed. At one time we were under 
the terrible fire of the combined Confederate artillery, though 



208 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

only two men of the Tenth, Wm. H. Day of Company F and 
Frank Mason of Company D, were wounded. Several others 
were hit bv fragments of shells and some of them knocked 
down, but none were seriously injured. A tall corporal of 
Company E, whose rifle was shot out of his hands, remarking 
that he couldn't march without a gun. left the ranks, and 
taking his pick from the many lying all around him, coolly 
took his place in line again. The 37th, marching in front of 
the Tenth, had more than a score of men wounded in the furi- 
ous sheUing preparatory to Pickett's charge; this excess of 
injury over ours being accounted for by the closer order in 
which they were advancing, as well as the fact that the num- 
bers of the 37th were probably three times those of the Tenth. 
To say that the air was full of iron is putting it mildly. 
"Inferno" of the deepest and reddest hue possible could not 
begin to express the conditions under which these regiments 
were marching. Orders could not be heard a file away. 
Loudest shouting was necessary to make one's neighbor hear. 
"Things ai-e pretty thick here," yelled Major Parker into the 
ear of a Company F man, "but somehow I don't see many 
cases of getting hit." After this experience every participant 
had full confidence in the old statement as to a man's weight 
in iron and lead being fired for every one killed. When the 
day was ended we were permitted to make small fires, to 
cook coffee, and then to actually rest, a most gracious privilege. 
In the fierce fighting of the afternoon, when Pickett and his 
men made their famous charge, thus reaching the high water 
mark of the Rebellion, the Sixth Corps had no part, save as 
already indicated. Yet it had responded to every order, had 
accomplished all that was set for it to do. and in writing 
"Gettysburg" on the battle flags of its many regiments. 
Sixth Army Corps survivors felt that in no way were they 
assuming more than their due for the victory of Gettysburg. 
An interesting incident of the day after the battle is told 
by Lieutenant Colonel Parsons to the following effect : 

About three o'clock in the morning on the 5th a sergeant 
bearing a white token from the 22d Virginia approached the 



July 5, '63 



Gettysburg 



209 



line. He was halted and ordered to advance. The sergeant 
advanced and stated that he wished to give himself up as a 
prisoner and desired good treatment. I interviewed the 
sergeant and asked him what troops were in front. I was 




Capt. H. G. Gilmore, Capt. G. W. Bigelow, Capt. E. L. Knight, 
Adjt. C. H. Brewster, Lt. Col. J. B. Parsons, Lieut. W. F. Darby, 
Asst. Surg. Wm. Holbrook, Lieut. G. C. Kaulbach, Asst. Surg. J. H. Gilman. 

(From wood cut in Newell's History.) 

informed by him that the Confederate Army had all with- 
drawn. I detailed a sergeant and file of men and gave them 
instructions, in the presence of the sergeant, to go out and 
verify his statement, and wound up by informing the sergeant 
that if my detail was captured that he would take thereon- 



210 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

sequences. Thev were gone about twenty minutes and returned. 
At twenty minutes past three I sent the prisoner to head- 
quarters under guard. I asked that he might have the best 
of treatment, as he had surrendered voluntarily, and given 
us the information that the enemy had gone; a sergeant and 
file of men were sent to the front, and this statement was 
fully verified.* 

Could the Army of the Potomac have heard the joyous 
acclaim that spread through the North when the Fourth of 
July, 1864, was ushered in, announcing not only the supreme 
victory at Gettysburg but that Grant at Yicksburg had eaten 
his famous dinner within the fortifications of the long be- 
leaguered city, they would have had cause to beheve that 
their sacrifices had not been in vain. Around them was spread 
the wreckage of three days' fighting such as the world had 
seldom seen. The dead and dying were on every hand, and 
the battle smoke yet hung heavily over the scene. It was 
Independence Day and very likely more than one "boy in 
blue" reflected that, but for the sacrifices evident all about 
him, it had been a solemn mockery to thus refer to the day 
made sacred in 1776. There were no national salutes; those 
of the preceding day. seemingly, were enough for the rest of 
the century. Evidently the enemy had no further desire for 
attacking. There was more or less skirmishing over the field 
and the rain fell to some extent ; Henry Knights of Company 
I was wounded in his hand; and we thought that we saw 
indications of retreat on the part of the Rebels. One of the 
lads on the spot writes, "Our Regiment was sent to the front 
early this morning. We took up a position about sixty yards 
in advance of where we were yesterday. This is the ground 



*When in New York, many years later, with the Ancient and 
Honorable Artillery company, three gentlemen called upon me at the 
hotel; one of them was introduced as an officer of the Southern Steam- 
ship line. We shook hands, and he infonned me that we had met 
before and asked if I recognized him. He said that he desired to thank 
me for the kindly treatment I gave him when he came into my line 
on the morning of July 5th, 1863, at Gettysburg. He assured me that 
he was given the kindliest treatment, plenty to eat, a good place to 
sleep, and after the army had left, he was paroled and sent home. 
He closed by saying that he was as good a Union man and had as 
much respect and love for the Old Flag as any soldier who wore the blue. 



July 5, '63 Southward 211 

over which the Rebels charged yesterday and it is covered 
with their dead. The Rebs are very quiet in front of us but, 
over at the left, they are skirmishing some and they threw a 
few shells over our heads. Everything has been pretty quiet 
today. There was a little firing at dark, just to make our 
Fourth of July fireworks." 

SOUTHWARD 

That the enemy began his retreat on the night of the 4th 
is history; that the following day the Sixth Corps, or Sedg- 
wick's Cavalrv, as some called it, w^as started in pursuit may 
not be so well known. Our route was on the Fairfield road in 
the direction of Hagerstown. The battle field was a scene 
of 1 horror; dead men with blackened faces were thickly strewn 
over the field — language is not adequate to its proper descrip- 
tion. We saw the smoking ruins of the barn where had been 
placed many of the wounded and who, unable to help them- 
selves, perished in the quickly kindled flames. Every house 
and barn from the battle field to Fairfield was a hospital for 
the wounded Confederates, while tents, more or less dilapidated, 
added to the accommodations for the stricken men in gray, of 
whom, we were told, there were more than 15,000. The Second 
Brigade started at about noon and its members remembered 
that the citizens of Pennsylvania were not as generous as 
those of Maryland, and that they were quite indisposed to 
take anything like a philosophical view of the losses that war 
had inflicted upon them. 

The Confederates retreated through South Mountain, whose 
narrow pass is a short distance beyond Fairfield. Here they 
had planted artillery so that their ranks might be protected 
as they filed through. General Sedgwdck pronounced the 
position too strong for assault and the main body of the army 
passed to the left by way of Frederick, while the Sixth Corps 
moved to Emmitsburg, excepting Neill's Brigade, which was 
detached and sent in pursuit of the retreating column. Our 
own Regiment, after pausing for a while at Catoctin, did not 
reach Emmitsburg until 1.00 a. m. of Tuesday, the 7th. We 



212 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

started again at seven o'clock and marched all day. At night- 
fall we began the ascent of the mountain and at ten o'clock 
camped upon the summit. The passage over the mountain 
was not without its picturesque features. The scenery was 
magnificent and the people, Hke those of mountainous regions 
generally, were pronounced in their patriotism. Owing to 
continuous rains, the march of the 8th was through muddy 
roads, while firing in the distance indicated the meeting of 
pursuers and pursued. After a march of nine miles, at 2.00 
p. m. we encamped near Middletown, Md. Our progress was 
no longer southward but rather towards the west and on the 
9th, moving through Middletown, we proceeded to Boones- 
borough, getting there at 10.00 a. m., whence the enemy 
had been driven that very morning. We had marched only 
five miles that day. 

Gen. John Newton, so long in command of the Third 
Division, having been promoted to the head of the First Corps 
after the death of Reynolds, his place was filled by the advance 
of Gen. Joseph J. Bartlett of the Second Brigade, First Divi- 
sion, originally Colonel of the 27th New York. His official 
report for the nearly three weeks' pursuit is substantially given 
in the calendar following. On the 10th, starting at 6.00 a. m. 
we advanced up the turnpike four miles, and on the right of 
the same the Division was formed in two lines, skirmishing 
being kept up all day, the enemy retiring slowly, and with 
rain still in evidence. No change in position on the 11th, 
save as General Bartlett threw out two brigades, one for 
picket and one to strengthen the Second Division. The 12th 
took the Regiment about three miles nearer the front and 
about two miles to the left of the turnpike; there was con- 
siderable firing and our pickets advanced; we were nearing 
Funkstown and the enemy was retreating. It was not exactly 
an ideal time for visiting, yet the Regiment was cheered by 
the sight of the face and form of United States Senator Henry 
Wilson, all the way from Washington. Evidently he wanted 
to see what active campaigning was like. If he had remained 
with his 22d Regiment he would have known very well long 



July 19, '63 Recross Potomac 213 

before this. While the 13th was ostensibly passed in camp 
it really meant picket duty for about two hundred of us, 
about all there were in the Regiment at 5.00 p. m. The Rebel 
battle line was not more than six hundred rods away. 

The morning of the 14th revealed the absence of the foe, 
and General Bartlett, sending out a scouting party, was able 
to report a lacking of graycoats in his front. He was then 
ordered to support General Wright of the First Division in a 
reconnoissance to the front ; their advance was unobstructed 
by the enemy who had crossed the Potomac at Williamsport 
during the night and were now in their own Virginia. Reach- 
ing the place at about noon, and later, as the regiments 
came up, we encamped for the night. The 15th ushered in a 
turn about and at 6.00 a. m. we started back through Funks- 
town, reaching Boonesborough early in the afternoon; the 
baggage trains were ordered to Berlin. On the 16th, moving 
out at 4.00 a. m., having been roused at two o'clock, we 
marched through Crampton's Gap and Burkittsville, to Ber- 
lin, getting there about noon. For two days we remained in 
Berlin, where the commissioned officers used a big barn as 
an ofifice in w^hich they made up the pay and muster rolls for 
May and June. Here the men were pleasantly surprised by 
a visit from many members of the 46th Massachusetts, a 
nine months' organization from the western part of the 
state, and greetings, hearty and many, were exchanged. The 
Regiment, with the Eighth and 51st Massachusetts, had vol- 
unteered to serve in the Gettysburg Campaign, though thereby 
cutting into their time for returning home and, under Gen. 
H. S. Briggs, the first Colonel of the Tenth, had arrived at 
Berlin in time to thus meet old friends. The 19th saw us in 
motion again, and recrossing the Potomac at Berlin, some of 
the bands playing, "Oh, carry me back," while General 
Sedgwick, as was his custom when we were crossing or passing 
a difficult place, stood at the further end of the bridge, pre- 
venting confusion and hurrying up the teams which might 
obstruct the way. We marched through Lovettsville, where 
we saw the same old flag on the same building where it was 



214 The Tkxth Massachusetts Infantry 

nearly a year before and the ladies, young and old, were waving 
"Godspeed" to the soldiers. At Wheatland we halted for 
the night. 

We were once more going over the route taken by McClellan 
in 1862; the Army had had three other commanders; nearly 
fifty thousand men had been sacrificed, and apparently we 
were about where we were nine months before. To be sure, 
the South was being terribly worn out and used up. but the 
process was not altogether inspiriting to the army. We 
started at ten in the forenoon of the 20th, and after fifteen 
miles of marching were at Union, passing through Percy ville 
on the way. The 21st was spent in camp, whence a large 
delegation of officers started homeward for the purpose of 
recruiting. The officers, commissioned and non-commissioned, 
thus favored were, Captain Wetherell (C), Lieutenants Ross 
(E) and Moore (K), First Sergeant Paull (I), Sergeants Cutler 
(F), Harris (C), Dewey (G), Sherman (B), and Corporal 
Hindley (H), and everyone washed them success in their mis- 
sion. Marching was resumed on the 22d, thus passing through 
Upperville and halting near Goose Creek, a distance of about 
four miles. The next day, the 2od. we started earlv and 
marched through Rectortown and Salem, finding blackberries 
abundant on the way. We had hoped and expected to stop 
a few hours in the former place, but the cry was onward, so 
we kept on going till we reached Barbee's Cross Roads, halting 
there for the night. We were in the northwest part of Fau- 
quier County and appeared to be zig-zagging on our way 
southward, for on the 24th we went almost directly westward 
towards Markham Station and then came back to Thumb 
River. We were moving along the eastern spurs of the Blue 
Ridge, not far from Ashby's Gap. Near by was Cobbler's 
Mountain, not as high, perhaps, as many but exceedingly 
beautiful. Under the mountain lay the little village of Spring- 
field and it would not be strange if the name suggested thoughts 
of another place of the same name in the distant northland. 
Never had we seen such displays of the running blackberry 
and the men fairly gorged themselves with the luscious fruit. 



July 29, '63 New Colors 215 

The effect upon the health of the men was marked and the 
surgeons came near losing their vocation. Camp was pitched 
near Chester Gap. 

We were roused early on the morning of the 25th with the 
understanding that we would start at five o'clock, but, having 
eaten a hurried breakfast, we were kept in place until seven, 
when we marched to within two miles of Warrenton, by way 
of Orlean. The First Division of the Sixth Corps camped in 
and about the town; the Second Division was placed in the 
vicinity of the old Baptist church and the Third was in the 
rear of the other two and guarded the flank. The Rappa- 
hannock River was about half a mile away and the vicinity 
was becoming classic in American history. The army of 
General Pope fought over this ground, and near here, almost 
aTyear before. General McClellan bade his old soldiers good-bye, 
as he passed over his command to Burnside. Owing to the 
scarcitv of rations, soldiers were obHged to seek food elsewhere 
than from the Commissary and were appalled at finding cofifee 
held at $4.00 per pound, sugar $1.50 and flour $25.00 a barrel, 
prices that were simply prohibitive with the men so long 
a time from pay day. It was much cheaper to forage and 
the boys found the opportunities many. Cattle and sheep 
fell victims to the needs of the army and Uncle Sam was the 
gainer then, though it would be difficult to tell what bills 
he paid in subsequent years. With the 26th came rations and 
Sunday, the former being especially welcome, since some 
were actuallv stifTering for food. Monday and Tuesday, the 
27th and 2Sth, have no more signal record than those of 
picking blackberries and foraging. The stories of those days, 
now sleeping in dust-covered diaries, would fill volumes if 
published, and however innocent they may have seemed to 
the boys themselves, they were, none the less, sources of great 
privation to the victims. 

The colors of the Regiment, presented by the ladies of 
Springfield, had fared roughly in the perils of war, and on the 
29th came brand new ones from Boston. The same agent 
who brought the new carried back the old to the keeping of 



216 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

the Commonwealth. All were hoping that the fresh standards 
might have as fortunate a fate as that of those carried by us 
during the preceding two years. A rearranging of tents and 
streets brought about better order. While we remembered 
that the 36th New York left us while we were hurrying towards 
Gettysburg, few of us realized how many other two years' 
regiments had been going home in similar manner. Also 
thousands of men, enlisted for only nine months, were being 
discharged, so that the Army of the Potomac was lessening at 
a serious rate. The loyal states had obeyed the orders of the 
President with reference to a draft and in some of them, 
particularly New York cit3% open and flagrant opposition had 
followed. To assist the local authorities in successfully 
resuming the draft in August it was deemed necessary to 
take still other men from the Potomac Army. To this end, 
the 37th Massachusetts from our own brigade, our nearest 
neighbor, so to speak, was detached and sent towards New 
York on the forenoon of the 31st. As General John A. Dix 
had called for the most efficient regiments in the service, all. 
felt the selection of the 37th to be a great tribute to its drill 
and discipline. 

AYARRENTON 

Warrentown became corps headquarters on the 1st day of 
August. On the 2d day we moved half a mile or so to a high 
hill, commanding a fine view of the town of Warrenton and 
surrounding country. We were near the famous Warrenton 
Sulphur Springs, sought by thousands of visitors before the 
war, not only for the medical properties of the waters, but for 
the social privileges thus afforded. While the White Sulphur 
Springs, further westward, near Culpeper, had robbed Warren- 
ton of much of its old-time popularity even before the war, 
yet there were many who would have come hither for rest 
and the waters were it not for the struggle now waging, 
evidences of whose fierceness were seen on every hand. The 
buildings had grown to be sadly out of repair and the shift- 
lessness of southern places was apparent everywhere. Many 



Aug. 2-8, '63 Warrenton 21 T 

a Yankee boy remarked to his neighbor, "If some northern 
man with means would only take hold of this place, what 
money he could make!" Meanwhile, the soldiers were par- 
taking of the waters and counting themselves summer boarders 
at the Clifton Springs of Virginia. 

Rival armies had destroyed the last vestige of a fence and 
the country lay bare and hapless. In the person of the Rev. 
Mr. Barten, rector of the Episcopal church, the Northampton 
men found an old neighbor, since the gentleman had left that 
lovely city of the Connecticut Valley for this place ere the 
war began. The soldiers also noticed that his audiences were 
made up largely of representatives of the Sixth Corps. An- 
other indication of the nearness of the source of things was 
the presence of soft bread on the 3d, the very first mouthful 
of the luxury since leaving the banks of the Rappahannock. 
While butter would have added to its flavor, its absence, if 
not made good, was at least obviated in part by the substitu- 
tion of salt pork. Home villages were also suggested in the 
sounding of the hours by the town clock in neighboring 
Warrenton. An inspection by companies closed the day. 
The 4th of the month became memorable on account of a storm 
of wind and rain, unusual even for that country. Tents were 
blown down, the officers' as well as those of the enlisted men. 
Headquarters went with the rest, the papers and documents 
that were there suffering the common woe. Not even this 
excess of wind and moisture could dampen the good humor 
of Captain Bigelow, who laughed over his demohshed habita- 
tion, thereby affording an excellent example of Mark Tapley 
philosophy for his drenched associates. 

The proximity and activity of guerrillas rendered necessary 
the sending out, on the 5th, of a detail of a hundred oflcers 
and men to patrol the vicinity and prevent the steaUng of 
property and the capture of isolated men. Capt. George 
Pierce, who had suffered from the resignation of the officers 
after Antietam, returned to the Regiment and duty on 
August 8th, having been reinstated by Governor Andrew. 
If the Sixth Corps needed rest and recuperation, there was 



218 The Tenth Massachusetts Ixfaxtry 

certainly opportunity for both in the stay near Warrenton. 
For days one observer has repeated only the entry, "Remained 
in camp all day." Another, for the 10th, observes the arrival 
of the sutler with two heavily loaded wagons; for the 12th 
the going out of a patrol under Captain Bigelow is noticed, 
while for the 14th the capture of a neighboring signal station 
and the resumption of drill and dress pai'ades are chronicled. 
Marching orders, as usual proving false, were received on the 
15th and Captain Gilmore directed another patrol. 

Not for many a day had the paymaster been seen, but on 
the 17th he gladdened the sight of the impecunious Regiment 
and began the paying off for four months' time, so that again 
the men were flush, thereby adding interest to manv a game 
of cards and reducing the stock of the sutler, for the bovs 
would eat, if it were possible to obtain his luxuries. While 
very large allotments had been made months ago for the 
families at home, after this payment the Quartermaster 
expressed to those same friends and others the large sum of 
$10,105.00 from the four hundred men remaining on duty in 
the Regiment, a bright example of thoughtfulness — and 
faithfulness as well. The First Massachusetts Cavalry, which 
had representatives from all sections of the Commonwealth, 
was camping near Warrenton and pleasant exchanges of visits 
were common. If the soldiers had been observant of duties 
to those at home in the sending of their wages thither, not 
less attentive were those very loved ones, as was evident on 
the 20th, when a load of express boxes from home cheered 
both heart and stomach. Coming through in the brief period 
of three or four days, the contents were in fine condition. 

Picket and patrol duty were common and regular during 
those weeks. Of the first named one of the boys writes for 
the 22d, "We are on picket today and are having gay times. 
There are so many of us that the duty is not hard, and the 
people are very kind. We live on bread and milk when out 
here. I generally go to the house of Captain Edwards, who 
got his title in the W^ar of 1812. He has a very pretty daughter. 
I have to pay twenty-five cents for a canteenful, when I pay 



Sept. 3, '63 Capt. Ives Captured 219 

in money, but they prefer to receive coffee, sugar and such 
hke." Another youth writes of going out after milk and 
cucumbers, rather an incongruous association; let us hope 
he did not combine them. August 30th, the Regiment was 
inspected by Gen. H. D. Terry who expressed gratification at 
its appearance and condition. Of continued pleasures on 
picket one truthful diarist observes, "There is one place 
where the boys go that they call the ' seven stars ' because one 
of the girls wears a band over her head with seven silver stars 
in it. In the family are the man, wife and two daughters. 
They are all 'secesh;' the son and brother is one of the guer- 
rillas who infest the neighborhood. The girls are excellent 
company and are good, nice girls." Human nature is the 
same the world over; while this soldier would have shot the 
guerrilla on sight, he found much to commend in the sisters. 
The last day of August had muster for pay by Colonel Rogers 
of the Second Rhode Island, while General Sedgwick ordered 
a strengthening of the picket line and a readiness to march 
at any moment. 

September continued the period of inactivity prevailing 
through August, and few of the men were finding any fault 
thereat. On the 2d day the camp got quite a scare through a 
misinterpretation of orders by Captain Ives. The order was 
that men having loaded guns should fire them between one 
and two in the afternoon. All the company commanders got 
their orders, Captain Ives among them, but he was on picket 
and the orderly did not think that he would fire off guns 
there, but the Captain took the order to mean his men as well 
as others. Of course the men in camp supposed that firing 
on the picket line meant an attack and they awaited the 
orders to fall in, and were much gratified to find that the noise 
was just a blunder. Thursday, Sept. 3d, was noteworthy in 
regimental annals in that it marks the capture of Capt. Ralph 
O. Ives while in charge of the picket line. The story goes that 
he dismounted at a certain house and went in to get a drink of 
milk. While there a party of guerrillas, seven in number, 
made a dash at the house and demanded his immediate 



^20 Thk Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

surrender. Under the circumstances, there was nothing left 
for him but compHance and he was carried off to Richmond. 
It is a remarkable record that only two officers of the Regiment 
had been captured before, and they. Major Miller and Lieu- 
tenant Wheeler, were grievously wounded at Malvern Hill. 
The following Sunday a letter was brought to the picket line 
by a citizen, in which Captain Ives related the circumstances 
of his capture and stated that he was on his way to Richmond, 
that he was well, was treated well, and requested that his 
effects be sent to his wife. One careful recorder of those days 
recalls that there was a certain Tenth Regiment private in 
the house at the same time, and he, more lucky than the 
Captain and being in the good graces of the occupants, 
escaped by burying himself between the ticks of an upstairs 
bed. Captain Ives was not released until Sept. 19, '64, and 
in the interval had a somewhat varied experience. The 
Richmond Examiner of Feb. S, '64, printed the following, 
which outlines one of the hardships that he escaped, for it 
is understood that because of the Federal Government 
receding from its attitude, the penalty was not enforced: 

RETALIATION 

In the summer of 1863, William Waller and Schulte Leach, 
two Kentuckians, and highly connected in their state, were 
commissioned and sent from Abingdon, Va., into Kentucky, 
to recruit a company for the Confederate service. Thev were 
captured at Maysville, tried under Order No. 38 of Burnside, 
the barber, (the same under which two other recruiting 
officers had been condemned and shot), convicted, and sen- 
tenced to die at the musket point. Their sentence was sub- 
sequently commuted to hard labor, with ball and chain, dur- 
ing the continuance of the war. They are now at Johnson's 
Island, working out the terms of their sentence. These facts 
were laid before the Confederate government by the membei-s 
of the Kentucky delegation now in Congress, and Friday, 
Major Turner, commandant of the Libby prison post, received 
an order from the Secretary of War, consigning two of the 
Federal prisoners, with the rank of captain, to a situation 
identical with that of Messrs. Waller and Leach. The two 
w^hom the fates selected from the ten or eleven hundred 



Feb.-Oct. '64 Captain Ives 221 

Federal officers, were Capt. R. C. G. Reed of the Third Ohio 
Cavalry, and Capt. R. O. Ives of the Tenth Massachusetts 
Infantry, both good representatives of the eastern and western 
Yankee, and apparently as equal to the task of breaking stone 
as stealing a negro. The pair will be started forward today 
for SaHsbury, N. C, the place selected for their future field 
of operations. When the Federal authorities notify this gov- 
ernment that the officers for whom they are held are released 
from their ignominious position, they will be restored to the 
status of prisoners of war, but not before. 

The Official Records of the War of the Rebelhon. Series II, 
Vols. 6 and 7, have several items bearing on this case; in the 
first instance Vol. 6, p. 945, under date of Feb. 12, '64, General 
Butler asks as to the willingness of the Confederates to ex- 
^h^nge Captain Ives; again, p. 986, Feb. 24, General Butler 
writes the Confederate commissioner, Col. Robert Ould, inclos- 
ing a letter from the father of Captain Waller, setting forth that 
the latter 's confinement in irons, etc., is entirely a mistake, and 
Butler asks if the irons have been taken off Captain Ives. 
Feb. 29th, '64, Commissary General of Prisoners W. Hoffman, 
in Washington asks General Butler if Captains Ives and Reed 
have been released from irons, to which the General replies 
that he understands they are not in irons but will make 
necessary inquiries. Vol. 7 of the same series, p. 42, has a 
note from Butler to Ould inquiring in what manner Ives is 
held; p. 413, same vol., has a letter from Commissioner John 
E. Mulford to General Butler, stating that no specific answers 
have been received concerning the manner of Ives's retention 
but he thinks a special exchange can be effected; this under 
date of June 25, '64; p. 672 of same vol., Aug. 23d, '64, Major 
Mulford says he has arranged for the exchange of Captain Ives 
for Captain Waller; apparently this was the arrangement 
which sent Captain Ives north, but the final entry in this 
series, same vol., p. 927, Oct. 6, '64, would leave us to infer 
that Captain Waller was not sent for our Captain. 

The capture of Captain Ives gave the men a nervous feeling 
and "Will the Rebs get me" was a mental inquiry of many 
a man as he went on picket thereafter. At any rate he had 



222 The Tknth Massachusetts Infantry 

had his warning as to tarrying long at houses. Sargent of 
Company K records for the 7th, "The guerrillas came down 
on us last night. They captured the signal station on Watery 
Mountain and might have got some of the pickets, if I had 
not received warning that Mosby was coming that night, 
thanks to Captain Edwards's daughter. I am satisfied that 
her husband is one of the guerrillas." On the 12th there were 
intercompany foot races, in which Andrew Hazelton of Com- 
pany E won first prize and Edward Reed of Company K, 
second. Just after the races there came one of the tornadoes 
characteristic of the section, which blew down all of the tents 
from that of the private to the General's, not sparing even 
the hospital and there were five or six ill therein at the time. 
During the later days of August, the Confederate leaders 
had mooted the question of sending aid to Bragg in his western 
campaign against Rosecrans. It was finally decided that 
Longstreet, with the divisions of Hood and McLaws, should 
go to the relief of Bragg. To this end the first train appeared 
at Louisa Court House Sej)t. 9th, to begin the transportation, 
but so poor was the railroad service it w^as not until several 
days had passed that the troops were finally embarked upon 
their long and tedious journey. On the 12th of the month, 
Meade learned that only Pickett's Division of Longstreet 's 
Corps was still with Lee, and the Union general accordingly 
ordered an advance, the Second Corps taking the lead, 
followed by the others. It was this movement that caused 
the order, on the 12th, for the Regiment to be ready to start 
at short notice. The next two da^-s were spent in wondering 
what was up and the cause of the artillery firing that was 
distinctly heard towards the southwest, this activity- being 
deemed necessary lest Lee should send still other troops to 
the discomfiture of Rosecrans. It was not, however, until 
half-past live of the 15th that the Regiment left Warrenton 
and, after maching five miles, camped for the night about 
one mile from the White Sulphur Springs which, just before 
the War. was aiming to become the Saratoga of that part 
of the South. 



Sept. 16, "63 Colonel Eustis Promoted 223 

On the 16th. after a hearty breakfast of coffee and hard-tack, 
we were ready to start at 6.00 a. m. for Culpeper Court House. 
On our way we passed through the famed watering place, 
noting the ruins of the great hotel, destroyed a year before, 
when the Second Bull Run Campaign was on. It must have 
been an extensive, elegant and commodious edifice, and on 
its capacious piazzas, doubtless, were discussed the very 
cjuestions we had been trying to solve in bloody battle for 
the last two years and more. The waters there are so impreg- 
nated with sulphur that the odor of over ripe eggs is smelled 
afar. The place itself is about seven miles southwest of 
Warrenton and on the direct road from that town to Culpeper. 
We crossed the Rappahannock on a corduroy bridge con- 
str,ucted by our forces, passing Jefferson City on our way, 
fording the Rappahannock, then about two and a half feet 
deep, and through Eldorado, which had a saw and grist mill 
and two or three buildings besides, otherwise we saw little 
evidence of human habitations on our way. After a march 
of nearlv or quite twenty miles we reached Stonehouse 
Mountain at about 8.00 p. m. and here encamped, being about 
four miles west of Culpeper. The paymaster had followed us 
and was ready to pay off the brigade for July and August. 

Here we received the news that Colonel Eustis had become 
a full Brigadier General and that the command of the Regi- 
ment devolved upon Lieutenant Colonel Parsons, though both 
officers had been acting in those capacities for several months. 
The 17th opened at the early hour of three o'clock with orders 
to form in battle line, muskets in hand. Evidently we were 
considerably nearer the enemy here than we were in Warren- 
ton. The guerrillas were certainly in evidence and they took 
a shot at General Wright of the First Division on the 18th, 
luckily not hitting him. The 19th welcomed the paymaster 
to the Regiment, the preceding days having been devoted to 
the other parts of the brigade. In the afternoon we moved 
a distance of about a quarter of a mile and arranged for a 
permanent camp. Tuesday, the 22d, brought to us eight 
days' rations, which we had orders to carry on our backs — not 



224 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

an attractive prospect by any means; we hoped that the 
march would not begin until some of the rations were con- 
sumed. 

Just as soon as the promotion of Colonel Eustis was an- 
nounced, measures were taken to indicate our appreciation 
of his ability and our pleasure at its recognition. To this end 
three hundred dollars was raised for the purchase of sword, 
sash and belt, an amount which might have been much larger 
were it not that the enlisted men were allowed to give only 
twenty-five cents each. Also, in these days, another sub- 
scription paper was circulated through the army for the 
purpose of securing a memorial for General McClellan, the 
amounts subscribed being limited: ten cents for the rank 
and file ; fifteen cents for sergeants ; one dollar for lieutenants ; 
a dollar and a half for captains : majors and lieutenant colonels , 
three dollars; colonels, five dollars; brigadier generals, ten 
and major generals, twenty dollars. The proposition was 
popular in the Tenth Regiment and the boys were ready to 
chip in, few having forgotten the popular organizer of the 
Army of the Potomac* 

We had not had to carry on our backs, as yet, the heavy 
rations of the 22d, but on the 24th we were warned that extra 
baggage must be packed so that it might be placed on the 
wagons. A detail of seventy-five men went out after forage 
on the 29th, and General Sedgwick inspected the camp. The 
month passed and we had the privilege of consuming our 
large issue of rations right where we drew them. 

RAILROAD GUARDING 

October was ushered in by a night march, beginning at 
nightfall, passing through Culpeper and marching in rain and 
mud to Rappahannock Station where we left the Third Bri- 



*Curious to know what came of this plan to present the General 
with a token of appreciation, and not finding any satisfaction in the 
books, a letter was addressed to Geo. B. McClellan, Jr., Mayor of New 
York, to which the following reply was received: 

"I have a distinct recollection that such a fund was started, but 
before it got fairly under wav, it was discontinued." 



Oct. 3-6, '63 Catlett's Station 225 

gade, while we pushed on until 8.00 a. m. of the 2d, when we 
halted for breakfast. Time was given for its preparation but 
it was a dreary task, so heavy was the rainfall, though with our 
backs to the storm and with ponchos over us, we made a 
blufiE at cheerfulness. While in this cheerless attitude, more 
than enough trains to carry us passed along the track empty, 
but our two brigades, set to guard the track, were to use our 
feet and legs in reaching our destination. The trains ran out 
to the army loaded but returned burdenless; somehow it 
didn't seem just right to us. After a wdiile we halted again at 
Bealton Station, a dreary place, with not a fence rail in sight, 
but better counsels prevailed and we marched further where 
we found a field with rails in plenty and here we halted for 
the night at about four o'clock, but it w^as after dark when 
the rain ceased. 

With the advent of the 3d came the sun once more and it 
cheered the Regiment as it marched towards Catlett's Station, 
where dinner was eaten, and the First Brigade with the 
Division General was left; again advancing, Bristoe Station 
was reached at sunset and glad were the men over the prospect 
of rest; they were too weary to even lay out a camp, deferring 
that task until the morrow. The 4th brought out the features 
of the camp, which was all the more easily made because of 
the excellent material left by the ;32d Massachusetts, the 
regiment preceding ours. The boys from the Bay State were 
good housekeepers. Building was the order of the day and 
to help this along five wagons went to Manassas, on the 5th, 
for lumber to construct hospital and headquarters tents. 
Guerrillas were all about us, as was evident when a straggling 
member of the Tenth was fired upon, warning him to keep 
closely in the ranks. Oct. 6th, a squad of men went over to 
Brentsville, shire town of Prince WiUiam County, to get 
bricks for the General's quarters. They secured them, but 
at the expense of the buildings themselves. Wanton destruc- 
tion of property, public and private, is one of the sad features 
of war everywhere. The documentary accumulations of more 
than two hundred years had been torn out of their files and 



226 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

scattered over the floors of the buildings to the depth of 
several feet. Many of them were exceedingly curious as well 
as valuable, but all became sacrifices to the spirit of mischief 
inherent in the best of us. Some of the men carried off 
mementos with them. Only three or four families continued 
here, the remainder having gone further into Dixie. 

Few officers, even, knew why the army was thus stringing 
along the railroads and, in a variety of ways, evidencing 
unusual activity. Our Third Division was taking care of 
the Virginia Midland Railroad from Rappahannock Station 
to Bristoe, and though we were comfortably encamped there 
was no feeling of constancy in it. With the 10th, we received 
eight days' rations again. Evidently something wrong was 
brewing. At parade on the 11th, a letter from the Pelham 
Sunday School was read to the men; what a touch of home 
was in the very thought! While we had thus been marching, 
building and guarding, the leaders of the opposing forces had 
been making moves in the game of war, quite unknown to 
their loyal followers. To begin with, Sept. 24th, the Eleventh 
and Twelfth Corps, under Howard and Slocum respectively, 
had been ordered to the relief of Chattanooga. Learning this, 
General Lee, reckoning on a corresponding weakening of the 
Union ranks, determined on an offensive movement which 
should drive Meade back from the line of the Rapidan River. 
With this purpose in view, he attempted to turn Meade's 
flank and so interpose himself between the latter and Washing- 
ton, thus in his own language "Swap Queens," i. e., he might 
in this manner capture Washington while Richmond would 
fall an easy prey to Meade; but to so rash a movement, Jeffer- 
son Davis would, at no time, assent. At any rate, if he could 
keep the Union forces on the anxious seat, as it were, this 
would permit him to send yet more of his own army to the 
grievously pressed Confederate forces in the West. 

RAPPAHANNOCK STATION 

Accordingly Lee crossed the Rapidan on the 9th of October 
and passed by wayJof_Madison Court House quite to the right 



Oct. 10-23, '63 Rappahannock Station 227 

of Meade, his cavalry as usual proving exceedingly effective. 
Meade's first knowledge of this movement was an attack, on 
thelOth, at James City, Stuart driving in a portion of Kil- 
patrick's Cavalry as far as Culpeper. Realizing that his right 
was already turned, Meade began a retrograde movement 
across the Rappahannock. Lee reached Culpeper on the 11th, 
only to find that Meade had moved behind the Rappahannock 
some hours before. Cavalry encounters were constant, but 
no set engagements. On Monday, the 12th, finding that 
Meade had been too quick for him and that his first turning 
movement had failed, he determined to attempt the reaching 
of the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, north of the Rappa- 
hannock; in this he almost succeeded through Meade's 
inability to read his adversary's purposes. Meade now 
started southward, while Lee was advancing to the northward. 
An encounter at White Sulphur Springs showed Meade in 
an instant what the real purpose of Lee was and the further 
move of his troops towards Culpeper was stayed. On the 
13th, both armies were on the north side of the Rappahannock, 
and then ensued a race of the Rebels and Federals, Lee 
endeavoring to pass to the rear of Meade, the latter deter- 
mined to prevent. Of the battle of Bristoe Station and other 
lesser engagements it is no part of our history to treat, but the 
country about Warrenton, so often marched over, was again 
trodden by rival feet, the tracks being more or less bloody, 
and it was as a small part of this "Campaign of Manoeuvres'' 
(Swinton) that the Tenth found itself in the mid-part of the 
month of October. 

Oct. 13th, the Regiment, so one of the men records, 
"marched all night last night, but stopped for breakfast this 
morning, and let the rest of the troops go by, while we guarded 
the rear. Though we saw some Rebel cavalry, we were not 
troubled." We left Bristoe Station at 4.00 a. m. and marched 
as far as Warrenton, where we formed in line of battle, to 
cover the retreat of our forces. We waited here until our 
Corps came up, when we started again and at 3.00 a. m. of 
Wednesday, the 14th, were at Kettle Run, about a mile and 



228 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

a half from where we started in the morning. We packed up 
at dayhght of the 14th, and moved to the rear. There was 
cannonading all day; we marched through Bristoe Station, 
Manassas Junction, and reached the fortifications in Center- 
ville at about 3.00 p. m., where the army seemed to be con- 
centrating. Our calculations for a winter's stay in Bristoe 
Station appeared to have been blighted. 

The next day we marched about two miles from Centreville 
and about one from Chantilly and threw up rifle pits and 
breastworks. Lee had been thwarted in his efforts to cover 
Bull Run battle field first. The boys were counting on a 
Third Bull Run with the other fellows running this time. 
Capt. Fred. Barton, who had been on the staff of General 
Eustis, went to Fairfax Station to see his father off for home, 
the latter having been visiting the Captain. On his way back 
to the brigade he was captured by guerrillas under Mosby, 
and taken to Richmond, whence he did not emerge until the 
29th of the following February. While there was plenty of 
firing heard, none of it seemed to be near us. The 16th was 
a rainy day and quiet prevailed, but no time was lost, since 
fortifications were thrown up. Some of the boys with memo- 
ries and observation recalled that they were about where 
Generals Stevens and Kearney were killed in September, '62. 
The 17th brought back the 37th Massachusetts from its tour 
of duty in New York City and we were pleased to have the 
old friends in the brigade once more. 

On the 19th the Regiment advanced to Gainesville, where 
skirmishing with the enemy was in progress, and we were 
ordered out and on again. Soon, however, we were halted 
and sent back to the pines for a few hours at least, we hoped. 
As usual we had marched in the rain a greater part of the day, 
though it had stopped before we reached Gainesville. As we 
were trying to make ourselves comfortable for the night, the 
enemy opened with shot and shell, informing us that there 
might be work for us forthwith. Packing hastily, we were 
soon double-quicking up the road, though not a very great 
ways, for we were soon halted, and no further alarm arising. 



Oct. 24, '63 Draw Clothing 229 

we returned to camp and rest. The cause of our trouble was 
the throwing of a few missiles by the Rebels into the camps 
of the Third Corps. Oct. 20th, w^e moved to New Baltimore, 
reaching there at about 3.00 p. m. Our foragers were soon at 
work, the ground being quite famihar to us, and ere long 
returned with convincing indication of the continued preva- 
lence of mutton in the vicinity. Here tents were pitched, 
every one, generals and all, evidently thinking we were to 
stav awhile. Alas for military expectations, for we were soon 
up and off again, this time to devoted Warrenton, so often 
named in these and almost all annals of regiments that served 
with the Army of the Potomac. It was after dark when we 
started, and a night march, through water courses and mud 
holes, with all sorts of ups and downs, is very far from fun. 
It appeared that the place was full of the enemy when we were 
at New Baltimore, but a dash of our cavalry had driven the 
Rebels out, hence our four miles' march to this point, some- 
what out of the village and very near our camping place 
before starting for Culpeper, several weeks before. 

We were not in the least averse to the orders to pitch our 
tents, the next morning, and with the grounds nicely cleaned 
up, we hoped the stay would be longer than had recently been 
the rule. The 22d saw us changing our position, throwing out 
pickets, and for the third time getting ready for another stop. 
So often did we fetch up at this point or near it, that we began 
to count it homelike. With the 23d came orders to be ready to 
move at a moment's notice, so we were not fixed for the 
winter yet. Lee had not ceased from his wanderings, and 
cavalry encounters prompted both sides to vigilance. Still 
we were in the same place on the 24th, when we drew clothing 
and blankets; a great privilege, since the approach of winter 
rendered heavier wear necessary. However, do the best we 
might, we were far from comfortable. The temperature of 
this latitude in late October felt quite too low for the meagre 
protection of shelter tents and mere camp fires, where chilling 
winds froze our backs and suffocating smoke from green wood 
filled our eyes with tears. At the same time camp and other 



230 The Tenth Mass.vchlsetts Ixfaxtry 

duties were performed and fuel was brought by teams from 
a distance. The careful annalist says, "We drew beans on 
the 29th, a rare ration in these times." Hardships surely 
multiply when the Massachusetts man is so long separated 
from his beans! Of this same October day another whites, 
"I went up on Watery Mountain just to look around. There 
is a signal station on the top of the mountain whose officers 
are pleasant and gentlemanly. They are willing to loan their 
glasses and to point out the places of interest. The Rebs 
are in plain sight, though ten or twelve miles away. The 
right of their army is at Stafford Court House, the left at 
Beverly Ford." October went out with a muster for pay by 
Lieut. Col. George L. Montague of the 37th Massachusetts. 

Save for its last day, the first week of November was cjuite 
uneventful, varied by little more than brigade, division, and 
finally, corps reviews and the welcome distribution of soft 
bread rations. On the 6th day new rations, with those on 
hand, made up the late regulation eight days' supply and 
orders came to be ready to march in the morning. The 
manoeuvres in which we had played our part for the last 
month were now approaching an end, with the honors, such 
as they were, in the possession of Lee. While he had been 
falling back, the advance of Meade was extremely cautious 
and he had delayed several days to repair the Orange and 
Alexandria Railroad. Now, on the 7th of November, the 
Confederates were disposed along the north bank of the 
Rappahannock, the fortifications near the Station having 
been built by our own forces. These works, held by 2,000 
men of Early's Division, Ewell's Corps, were carried by the 
First Division of the Sixth Corps and over 1,500 prisoners 
with four guns and eight standards were taken ; our own loss 
was about three hundred killed and wounded. 

The part borne by the Tenth Regiment in this engagement 
was not prominent, yet it did all that it could, all that it was 
directed to do. Awakened at four o'clock, we left Warrenton 
at seven, marching towards Rappahannock Station. The 
Fifth and Sixth Corps, constituting the right wing, under the 



Nov. 7, '63 Rappahannock Station 231 

command of General Sedgwick, Meade being with the left 
wing, advanced upon the works. Skirmishers were thrown 
out and the enemy was soon driven into the fortifications 
against which the artillery fire was speedily directed. Our 
special duty was to support a battery, having been detached 
with the Seventh Massachusetts from our own brigade to 
serve with Shaler's (First). Here we lost two men mortally 
wounded, both of Company I, Simeon P. Smith of Holyoke 
and Joseph Ungerer of West Springfield. The former had his 
left knee shattered and died at ten o'clock at night, though 
his coolness and nerve ought to have carried him through^ 
since, when wounded, he used his handkerchief and bayonet 
to form a tourniquet to stop the flow of blood, and then with 
his pocket knife finished the amputation of his leg. Ungerer 
Tost all the fingers of his left hand and the first three of his 
right, while a piece of flesh the size of a man's hand was torn 
from his left thigh. He died the 10th of Dec. following. The 
horse of Adjutant Brewster received a shot in the neck, near 
the breast. 

Just before sundown, the Tenth was moved to the right to 
support Battery C of the First Rhode Island artillery which 
did most excellent work, every shot apparently bursting 
over the fort or on the parapet. While we had no part in the 
final charge, just at sunset, of the Third Brigade, First Divi- 
sion, we could do our share in exulting, since the leader was 
the brave Gen. David A. Russell, first Colonel of the Seventh 
Massachusetts of our own brigade. It is claimed by some 
that the Second Brigade, Third Division, our own, was at 
first designated for this assault. If so, while we gained less 
fame bv not charging, some lives were surely saved. Some 
of the prisoners were of the famous Louisiana Tigers, a fine 
lot of men physically, and as they marched by, in the best of 
humor, some of them remarked, "We're going to see Father 
Abraham and get some soft bread." While all this was going 
on upon the right, the Union left was successfully engaging 
the Confederate right at Kelly's Ford and the day closed 
with Lee moving toward the Rapidan, which he crossed that 



232 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

night and on the morning of the 8th. For our own part, we 
were content to rest, though at first the order not to build 
fires augered ill for our coffee, but this instruction was later 
countermanded so that a speedy requisition was made on the 
neighboring fences and the Regiment felt more comfortable. 
The days that followed were more active than bloody, 
there being some marching or other duty almost constantly. 
On the morning of the 8th we moved a mile to the left, and 
in the afternoon were sent across the river on picket. The 
9th we recrossed the Rappahannock and marched to Kelly's 
Ford to join our brigade, Shaler's having stopped at Rappa- 
hannock Station. The 10th, a heavy detail of the Regiment 
went to Warrenton Junction in charge of a supply train, and 
on the 11th said detail returned. The 12th saw us leaving 
Kelly's Ford at daylight to join the Sixth Corps which was 
occupying an advanced position. 

BRANDY STATION 

We reached Brandy Station early in the afternoon and 
encamped on the farm of John Minor Botts, a southern man 
long conspicuous for his unyielding Union sentiments. He 
had already sufi^ered in a Richmond prison for his opinions, 
but nothing swerved him from his unalterable loyalty. As 
far back as the days of John Quincy Adams in Congress, he 
had supported the Old Man Eloquent in the latter's contest 
for the right of petition. Now his farm was overrun by the 
armies of both North and South and a considerable portion 
of it dug up for rifle pits and breastworks.* Mr. Botts is 
said to have claimed ownership to six hundred miles of fence 
when we went upon his plantation, but a week later he could 
not have said that truthfully, for his fences were burned and 
his trees felled, but his well-known Unionism secured adequate 
compensation from the Federal Quartermaster General. 
That day (12th) was also notable in that then arrived the 

*In 1866 appeared his "History of the Rebellion" a most acrid 
setting forth of the views and ends of the leaders in secession. He 
died in Culpeper, Januar\^ 7, 1869. 



Nov. 12, '63 Chaplain Pekkins 233^ 

new Chaplain, the Rev. Francis B. Perkins, who came to us 
from Montague. Orders were received to make ourselves, 
comfortable for nine or ten days. Regardless of the 
understanding that rations were supposedly in the possession 
of the men, sufficient to last several days, the 13th found 
many of them foodless; such was the improvidence of 
some, no care on their own part would ever keep them sup- 
plied. All about us were remains of the Rebel camps which 
had been developed to the extent of making them winter 
quarters, and when they left it was in such a hurry they did 
not carry off many of their belongings, so that it was no 
unusual sight for Union enlisted men to go strutting about in 
the uniforms of Confederate officers of high rank. It is said 
that General Lee was conducting a brilliant review when we 
attacked him on the 7th. Heavy cannonading and an issue 
of clothing were noted on the loth, while the 16th chronicled 
an inspection by Brigade Inspector Young, and a prayer at 
dress parade by Chaplain Perkins, the first we had had in 
many a day. During those days busy hands had been at 
work on the railroad, and on the ISth trains were once more 
running to Culpeper. The paymaster came on the 19th and, 
as ever, was a welcome visitor, though he did not pay our 
Regiment until the 22d. For the edification of certain dis- 
tinguished British officers, there was a review of the entire 
Corps on the 20th by General Sedgwick. The 23d was Thanks- 
giving day at home, but no attention was paid to the fact 
in our camps; there was too much else to attend to. General 
Eustis inspected us, paying special attention to the condition 
of the shoes of the men. We were ordered to be ready to 
move on the 24th at an early hour, clothing and provisions 
having been issued to the men, but the morning was stormy 
and the advance was postponed. For the 25th, orders were 
issued to be ready to move at daylight with five days' rations. 
Lieut. Terry S. Noble of Company K received his discharge 
and started home that dav. 



234 The Tenth Massachusetts Ixfantry 

MINE RUN 

The railroad, destroyed by the Confederates in the "Cam- 
paign of Manoeuvres," having been repaired and the bridge 
at Rappahannock Station rebuilt, and the whole northern 
press clamoring for some forward movement, General Meade 
determined to take advantage of Lee's lessened forces, Long- 
street being in the West, and the considerably dispersed 
condition of his two remaining corps, Hill's and Ewell's, and, 
moving upon him suddenly, drive him much nearer Rich- 
mond, even if he did not overcome the Rebel chief completely. 
Again the plans were excellent and ought to have succeeded, 
but trusted lieutenants were slow and the configuration of 
rivers and country was not always as pictured, hence there 
was another case of "great expectations" with only hmited 
realization. Meade is calculated to have led 70,000 men, 
while Lee, owing to the absence of Longstreet, had not more 
than 50,000. The right of the Confederates, touching the 
Rapidan at Morton's Ford, leaving uncovered the several 
lower fords of that stream, was depending for protection on 
a line of fortifications constructed along the left bank of Mine 
Run, a tributary of the Rapidan, entering the same near 
Morton's Ford and flowing nearly at right angles with the 
larger stream. Ewell's Corps held position from Morton's 
Ford to Orange Court House, while Hill's was distributed 
from south of that point along the railroad to near Charlotts- 
ville, an interval of several miles existing between the corps. 

Provided with ten days' rations, Meade had resolved to 
cut loose from his base of supplies. His orders for advance, 
first given on the 23d, were countermanded on account of a 
severe storm of three days' duration which broke over the 
army. In brief, the advance did not proceed according to 
schedule, the Third Corps being still asleep when the Sixth 
was upon it, and the Sixth was to have followed. Here was 
a long delay; again at Jacob's Ford the pontoons were not 
sufficient to carry the bridge to the opposite shore and, when 
reached, the banks were too steep for the crossing of the artil- 



Nov. 26, '63 Towards Mine Run 235 

lery, thus causing in all a delay of more than twenty-four 
hours. The other corps, crossing lower down, accomplished 
their missions, but the delays named w^ere fatal, so that when 
finally facing each other, Lee had so strengthened his position 
that it was not deemed feasible to attack, and once more the 
Army of the Potomac moved back to its old position and 
camped. 

For the Tenth Regiment the story follows. Reveille sounded 
before daylight on the 26th, the day set for the general 
advance and, with adequate rations, the army was supposed 
to be ready to march. An hour later the Sixth Corps was 
marching towards Brandy Station and very soon the head of 
our column halted in the midst of the camp of the Third Corps, 
which should have been up and away long before our arrival. 
The Third Division, to which the Regiment belonged, was 
guarding trains on the rear; at any rate it was last in the 
column. The recent rains had reduced the roads to a deplor- 
able condition, but we w^ere used to that. Night came upon us 
with only about eight miles to our credit . We had w^aited hours 
for the Third Corps to get ready to march. The head of the 
Third Corps did not reach Jacob's Ford until long after dark 
instead of noon as had been expected. Here was another 
long halt owing to an insufficient number of boats for the 
bridge. While thus picking our way along, we could not 
halt for rest nor long enough to make our great solace, a cup 
of coffee, so that the cry of "Coffee, coffee, coffee" rang out 
through the forests in which we were picking our way, until 
at 11.00 p. m. there was a halt of ten minutes, in which time 
we were allowed to prepare a cup of our favorite stimulant. 
It was past midnight when we crossed the river, leaving 
Upton's Brigade of the First Division on the north side as a 
rear guard. There was scant preparation for camping when 
the south side of the Rapidan was reached, every man throw- 
ing himself on the ground for immediate sleep. 

The Fifth and First Corps had crossed at Culpeper Ford; 
the Second at noon had gone over at Germanna Ford, and all 
three were at their assigned stations, again approaching the 



536 The Tenth Massachusetts Ixfantry 

scenes of the Chancellorsville encounter of last May. Only 
the Third and Sixth Corps had failed to reach the assigned 
positions, viz, at Robertson's Tavern, fully seven miles 
beyond the ford, but the men were too weary and the country 
too obscure to warrant the march that night, though no blame 
could be attached to the Sixth Corps or commander. On the 
morning of the 27th the Third Corps began its advance and 
the Sixth was in line to follow, but trouble soon began towards 
the front where picket firing and an occasional cannon boom 
told us that the enemy had been reached. Here we waited, 
the skirmishing continuing until about 3.00 p. m. when the 
firing was considerably increased and it was evident that the 
struggle was increasing. Our division, the Third, was moved 
to the left and formed in line of battle, all anxiously waiting 
for word from the front where the fight was raging furiously. 
It appeared that the misadventures of the Third Corps were 
not yet ended, for in trying to obey Meade's orders to advance 
to Robertson's Tavern, it had taken a wrong road, being too 
far to the I'ight, and so had encountered Johnson's Division 
of Ewell's Corps, hence the noise of battle to which we were 
treated during the afternoon. In the engagement there was 
a loss of several hundred men on both sides. 

While waiting for the orders that should send us in, night 
settled down upon us, the sound of arms subsided and we, still 
clinging to our weapons, rested as best we might. Towards 
midnight the "general" was sounded and with thirteen extra 
rounds we packed up and still waited. A prayer meeting 
helped to pass away some of the earlier hours of the night. 
It was 1.00 a. m. of the 2Sth when we really fell in and started, 
turning to our left and at daylight, reaching Robertson's 
Tavern, halted for breakfast. We should have been at this 
point just twenty-four hours before. A cold drenching rain 
fell steadily the greater part of the 28th during which there 
was some skirmishing but no engagement like that of yester- 
day. The morass into which our Regiment was led added to 
our discomfort, giving us inoisture in every possible way. We 
were in the midst of deep woods through which flowed the 



Nov. 29-30, '63 Mine Run 237 

small stream, Mine Run, bordered by wide marshes, fated to 
be known in history as the scene of an abortive effort to out- 
wit the Confederates. During the night both sides threw up 
strong breastworks which the morning revealed as so much 
more to be overcome. 

Sunday was spent in still further arranging the forces with 
General Warren and the Second Corps at the extreme Union 
left; he was supported by the Fifth Corps, two divisions of 
of the Third, and our (Third) Division of the Sixth, under 
Gen. H. D. Terry. In the center were the First and Fifth 
Corps, while the right was composed of the two remaining 
divisions of the Sixth and wdiat was left of the Third. It was 
a cold, raw dav and we were ordered to load our pieces, but 
to build no fires. As usual, when so many opposing forces 
confront each other, with almost ubiquitous cavalry there 
was a constant firing from some direction and when we heard 
it heavy in our rear, certain of the men expressed a wonder as 
to just where the rear was. With pickets thrown out at night, 
and with camp fires burning, we passed a fairly comfortable 
period of waiting for the morning. That something unusual 
was impending on that morning everybody knew. We had 
not been hanging on through all this cold marching from 
one position to another without some reason, and all expected 
that the morrow would see another contribution to American 
history. 

And such had been the case, and the petty brook, Mine 
Run, perhaps had ranked in story and verse with Linden, 
Boyne Water and other streams that have been reddened 
with human blood through man's inhumanity to man, had 
we advanced. This was the program set, viz, that at 8.00 
a. m. Warren with his massed forces, after a heavy fire of 
artillerv, should open the attack on the left, and an hour later 
Sedgwick, on the right, should lead an assault. Monday morn- 
ing, the 30th, came. Soon the roar of artillery from Sedg- 
wick's right saluted the ear, followed by that of the center, 
but no sound came from Warren at the Union left. The hours 
of darkness had been so profitably employed that when the 



238 The Tenth Massachusetts Ixkaxtry 

morning sun shone over the hnes, the practiced engineering 
eye of the Union leader, Warren, told him that the works were 
impregnable. As in other cases, before and after, he might 
have assaulted and have sacrificed the lives of thousands, but 
to what good? 

With Warren's opinion, Meade himself coincided when he 
had hastily ridden to the left and there saw the change that 
had come over the scene. The charge was not made, the 
battle was not fought, and Mine Run, as a great battle, has no 
place in history; but the men who confronted those frowning 
works were ready for the fray, they had before advanced to 
almost certain death, and were still to do so in the months 
to come. That these veteran campaigners realized fully the 
imminence of their peril, Swinton sets forth in the following 
words, "Recognizing that the task now before them was of 
the character of a forlorn hope, knowing well that no man 
here could count on escaping death, the soldiers, without sign 
of shrinking from the sacrifice, were seen quietly pinning on 
the breast of their blouses of blue, slips of paper on which each 
had written his uamcl" 

So the day wore away; no advance on our part, the Con- 
federates confidently waiting our attack. Meade could not 
go further; the flanking movement of Grant in the following 
spring, thus opening up Fredericksburg, Halleck had positively 
forbidden; hence there was nothing for Meade to do but to 
fall back to his former lines, to which he at once proceeded. 
During the night of Nov. 30th and Dec. 1st there was no 
alteration in the respective attitudes of the forces, though the 
Tenth and other regiments were detailed for picket and, soon 
after being posted, we were informed that the withdrawal 
would commence at nine o'clock. Orders were that fires should 
be built and the appearance of remaining should be main- 
tained. The weather favored us. for the same grew colder^ 
the mud stiffened, and the wind coming from the South, 
deadened the sound of our retreat. The main part of our 
forces was safely withdrawn, and at 3.00 a. m. we began to 
call in our pickets and in a short time we were readv to move, 



Dec. 3, '63 Brandy Station 239 

but there was a delay of an hour in getting back the pickets 
of the Second Corps. So speedy was our pace and so excellent 
Avere the roads, we soon overtook the Second Corps which had 
had five hours the start of us. So long, however, had we been 
away from our base of supplies, few of the men had more than 
a single meal remaining. 

It was only a few minutes past 10.00 a. m. of the 2d of Dec. 
when we reached Culpeper Mine Ford on the Rapidan, having 
covered thirteen miles in less than six hours, a remarkable 
feat considering the route over which we had marched. It 
must not be forgotten that these called-in pickets were in the 
rear and there was no incentive to loiter, on the contrary 
there was every prompting to hasten. Once over the river, 
th^re was only a brief halt for dinner, though it was called 
breakfast; at any rate it was the first meal of the day, save 
as the retreating soldier took a hand-out from his own haver- 
sack. At 1.00 p. m. we were off again, this time en route for 
Brandy Station, twelve miles away. It was a long, toilsome 
afternoon, the men weary, sleepy and hungry, many of them 
dropping to the ground through sheer exhaustion. The sun 
went down and still we struggled on, at last halting a few 
miles short of our old camping ground. 

BRANDY STATION 

It was about noon of the 3d when we reached our former 
station on the farm of that staunch Loyalist, John Minor 
Botts, his residence being about a mile and a half from there. 
In those times of carnal weapons and action, it was interesting 
to note that quite a religious movement was stirring among 
the men, originating in Company I, and meetings of special 
interest were frequently held. While marching orders were 
received in the evening of that day, the sequel proved them 
abortive, since we held on there with indications of that being 
our post for the winter. On the Sth, the building of quarters 
began, and ere long with clothing, housing and sufficient food 
we were better off than we had been at any time since leaving 
Brightwood. At winter c^uarters there was little to state; 



2-tO The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

one day was much like another. Letters were written home, 
occasional passes were secured for visits to other camps, 
or even to Washington or Alexandria, but the times were far 
from active. It was in those days that re-enlistment was 
talked of, and the boys were captivated with the thought of 
a whole month at home, not to mention the allurements of a 
very large bounty, cash in hand. On the 15th, the Corps was 
reviewed by Generals Meade and Sedgwick, accompanied by 
certain distinguished Russian naval officers. 

December 18th brought a Springfield visitor in the person 
of Mr. O. W. Wilcox who came clear down there to secure 
men on the city's quota. Of course he was after re-enlistments, 
but it did seem queer that recruits should be sought so near 
the battle front, when we were sending officers North on the 
same errand. The friends at home were thinking of us, as 
was shown by a quantity of express matter on the 20th, and 
the vast array of humanity encamped there was manifested 
when we found that we had to go further and further for our 
fuel. Up to the 23d, sixty-five men had re-enlisted for another 
term of three years and the next day, the 24th, the order in 
relation to re-enlistment was read to the Regiment, carrying 
with it the promise of thirty-five days' furlough. Somewhere, 
nearly everywhere save there in camp, people were proclaim- 
ing it the "Night before Christmas," but there were no 
stockings pendent there as Santa Claus illusions, but these 
"old" boys were thinking of the diversions and pleasures of 
the far-away northern homes. If there were homesick ones 
in the great number, they carefully concealed their feelings 
and maintained a stolid exterior. 

Of Christmas Day itself, there are not many records, but 
we are told that the men were still drawing wood for building 
purposes and one careful on-looker describes a fight between 
a rooster owned by Captain Young, of General Eustis's staff, 
and another, the property of Crummy (A), the regimental 
butcher, in which combat the butcher's bird was whipped, a 
fact which so exasperated the owner that he immediately 
WTung the unlucky l)ird's neck. As for his own Christmas 



Dec. 28-31, '63 Re-enlistment 241 

dinner, the writer says, "Alf. Midgley presented our bunk 
with a cake, I had already bought a Hver from the Commissary 
and John Beaumont had a box of goodies come from home, 
so we had a good dinner. This afternoon I saw a sparring 
match on the parade ground." Perhaps the day was not spent 
exactly in the orthodox fashion, but what could be expected 
of men and boys who had enlisted to fight ! 

As December waned, and whole regiments having re- 
enhsted were going home, the spirit to do Hkewise proved 
contagious and by the 28th about one hundred of the Tenth 
had made a start. George S. Greene, First Sergeant of Com- 
pany F, was the first sergeant to put down his name. Winter 
quarters were pretty well advanced, though some w^ere yet 
lacking those very essential features of a winter's camp. Logs 
constituted the walls of the huts and shelter tents formed 
the roofs; they stood six feet by ten on the ground, the walls 
being about four feet high. At one end were the door and 
fireplace, at the other, the bunks, each one made for two 
occupants, the lower being about six inches from the floor, 
the upper three feet. The remaining floor space, six by six 
feet, was reserved for all the purposes of housekeeping by the 
four men who called this home. Adjutant Brewster swore in 
seventy re-enlisted men on the 29th and Lieutenant Colonel 
Harlow of the Seventh Massachusetts mustered the Tenth for 
pay on the 3 1st, the last day of the year. Whatever the 
resolutions made by these men at the close of 1863 and the 
beginning of 1864, it may be safe to state that a very promi- 
nent one was a mental promise to do their best to make the 
new year a long step towards the suppression of the Rebellion 
and a consequent return to each one's beloved home. 

1864 

January was signalized by the going away on the 1st of 
Wheaton's (Third) Brigade and the order for ours (Second) 
to be ready to move at short notice but, somehow, such 
commands did not have the same weight they had two years 
before. On the 2d, Captain Smith of General Terry's staff 



242 



The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 



mustered in the re-enlisted men of nine companies and on the 
next day those of " F," the other company, were sworn in; the 
day being Sundav services were conducted by the Chaplain 





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if^fcjj 


^few 


ff^^^y 




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mil 


p 




ft 


i^Si^^ 






V 



Capt. J. H. Wetherell, 

Lieut. W. A. Putnam, Maj. D. F. Parker, Lieut. W. A. Ashley, 

Lieut. A. E. Midgley, Serg't. Maj. G. F. Polley, Lieut. E. B. Bartlett. 

(From wood cut in Newell's History.) 

of the Second Rhode Island. Major Ely, Paymaster, settled 
with the re-enlisted men on the 4th, while snow fell to the 
depth of three inches. Orders to march were accompanied 
with five days' rations and twenty rounds of cartridges, but 
the marching orders were countermanded on the 5th. Shaler's 



Jan. 27, '64 New Chapel 243 

First Brigade of the Third Division of the Sixth Corps left 
Jan. 8th for Sandusky, Ohio, to guard Rebel prisoners and it 
appeared that Wheaton and his Brigade were guarding the 
railroad at Falling Waters on the Potomac.* As General 
Terry, commanding the Division, had gone away with the 
First Brigade, ours was attached to Howe's (Second) Division. 
The arrival of nine recruits was chronicled on the 9th and all 
sorts of rumors filled the ears of listeners as to what was to be 
done with the brigade. Meanwhile the mud was deep and 
adhesive, so much so that about all the out-of-door require- 
ments were roll call, fatigue and sentry duty, so that letter 
writing reached a high pitch of prevalence. 

On the 23d, Lieutenant Colonel Parsons went home on a 
furlough and Major Parker was in command. The same day 
a camp guard was established. The weather clearing, there 
was a grand dress parade on the 27th with General Eustis and 
wife and son present, and as Colonel Parsons returned just 
in time, he assumed command. The month expired on Sunday 
and the Chaplain had services in the new chapel, whose con- 
struction he was superintending. Thinking a special edifice 
for religious purposes desirable, Chaplain Perkins had set 
about erecting one that should be a credit to the Regiment. 
Securing the use of six teams for a day, and with a volunteer 
array of helpers, he started for the woods three miles away. 
Getting his material on the ground that day, the next he began 
putting up his structure, whose walls arose to the height of 
five feet, and for the roof he obtained a large tent cover from 
the United States Christian Commission, which also furnished 
the stove. The dimensions of the chapel were seventeen by 
twenty-three feet and it would seat a hundred people. The 
dedication took place on the evening of Feb. 3d, with exer- 
cises participated in by the Chaplain himself. Chaplains J. L. 



*After ad\'ancing as far as Halltown, the Brigade returned to 
Harper's Ferry and there wintered. This really meant the breaking 
up of the old Third Division of the Sixth Corps, these troops thereafter 
augmented the Second Division, while a new Third was made by the 
transferring of the Third Division of the Third Corps to the Sixth, 
{ n the Spring of 1864. 



244 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

Roberts of the Fourth Vermont, and J. D. Beugless of the 
Second Rhode Island. Choir music was furnished under the 
lead of First Lieut. M. H. Cotrell, Company D, and was 
excellent. Among those present at the dedication were 
General Eustis and wife and several of his staff officers and 
others. For decoration and embellishment, the colors of the 
Regiment were conspicuously suspended. 

Much to the annoyance of the Chaplain, hardly was his 
structure in shape and use, before Major Parker conceived 
the idea that the chapel would be a fine place in which to 
practice bayonet drill and accordingly he demanded the keys 
to the room from the Chaplain who naturally demurred, nor 
yielded until he had received a peremptory order from the 
Major. The latter used the space as a drill room until the return 
of Lieutenant Colonel Parsons who dealt with the Major as 
summarily as the latter had with the Chaplain, and returned 
the key to the clergyman. On the 4th there was a meeting in 
the chapel for the organization of a Lyceum which resulted 
in the election of the following officers, viz. President, Capt. 
Geo. W. Bigelow; Vice-President, Capt. Wm. Streeter; Sec- 
retary, Sergt. H. M. Converse; Treasurer, Corp. Wm. S. Jones; 
Editor, Roslyn S. Bowles, the latter's duties, doubtless, being 
to see that Lyceum eloquence was properly aired in the 
Springfield press. Weekly meetings were to be held. With 
the 5th came orders to be ready to move at 8.00 a. m. on the 
morrow, but the day and the hour brought no action, only 
further orders to be in readiness. At noon there was cannon- 
ading along the Rapidan, continuing all the afternoon. Just 
before nightfall musketry firing began and continued two 
hours, some of the time very heavy. At 8.00 p. m. the firing 
ceased and in a little while the southern skies were reddened 
with the Confederate camp fires. 

WISTAR'S RAID 

All of this commotion was incident to a project, conceived 
by Gen. B. F. Butler who, thinking the Confederates had so 
lessened their numbers through sending aid to the western 



Feb. 5-6, '64 Wistar's Raid 245 

army and to Pickett in North Carolina, formed the design of 
swooping down on the defenceless Capital of Rebeldom by a 
cavalry raid through New Kent Court House on the Peninsula. 
Gen. I.J. Wistar, to whom Butler gives credit for originating 
the scheme (vide Butler's Book, pp. 619-21), left New Kent 
Court House on the 5th and the next day was at Bottom's 
Bridge on the Chickahominy, eleven miles from Richmond. 
On the 6th, General Sedgwick, temporarily commanding the 
Army of the Potomac in the absence of Meade, having been 
thus ordered from Washington, threw Kilpatrick's Cavalry 
across the Rapidan and Merritt's Division at Barnett's Ford, 
while two divisions of the Second Corps crossed at Germanna 
Ford by wading. The enemy was not very badly scared, and 
holding his position, there was extensive skirmishing through 
the day. However, as Wistar found Bottom's Bridge well 
defended his trip came to naught, and the Union troops all 
returned to their former stations. Butler says the bridge had 
been in a defenceless state, but the enemy was informed 
through a deserter whom President Lincoln's leniencv had 
saved from the gallows. At any rate, there had been a varia- 
tion of camp routine, lots of noise, a sacrifice of two hundred 
and fifty soldiers and then matters resumed their wonted 
calmness. 

The rumbles of war did not subside at once, for some firing 
was heard on the 7th, though more distant; picket duty was 
closely maintained, the line being established five miles from 
camp. The 10th was a happy date for the re-enlisted men, 
since on that day their furloughs began and they started home. 
To those who have been home thus, no comments are neces- 
sary ; for those whose lives have been passed in civilian peace 
and quiet no amount of description or elaboration would 
make clear the supreme bliss of a whole month away from 
the hectoring demands of army life, and the pleasures of home 
and friends with no intervention of pass or permit. The 11th 
marked the beginning of another respite for Lieutenant 
Colonel Parsons who then left for home, expecting to join the 
re-enlisted men in Washington. He was accompanied by 



246 The Tb;xth Massachusf:tts Infantry 

Captains Shurtleff. Knight and Pierce, Adjutant Brewster 
and Lieutenant Munyan. The Lyceum was now in working 
order and on the evening of that date, the men were found 
debating the question, "Resolved, that there is more pleasure 
in anticipation than in participation." Hersey of Company H 
quite won the day and question by the words, "I'd rather 
have my discharge in hand one minute than anticipate it 
for months." That the chapel might afford all possible aid 
to those desiring, a spelling school was also maintained. 
On the 12th, with Major Parker in command, the Regiment 
was consolidated into four companies; battalion drills were 
resumed and there was a regular formal guard mount in the 
morning. With the 13th went the last of the re -enlisted men 
on their furloughs and Captain Wetherell inspected the recent 
recruits. Sunday, Feb. 14th, brought a valentine for the 
Regiment in the shape of the old regimental band, under the 
leadership of Burdick A. Stewart, reorganized, now to furnish 
music for the brigade. There was a heavy snow storm and 
Major Parker mercifully withdrew all of the sentinels except 
one. 

That men might be ready for the Spring Campaign, the 
sergeants were ordered to report to Captain Bishop for 
instruction ; they in turn passing their newly acquired knowl- 
edge along to those lower in rank than themselves. The 17th 
was blustering and cold, a touch of genuine winter. Judging 
from the diary kept b}^ one of the enlisted men, one might 
think there were meetings at the chapel every dav in the 
week. That the Regiment entertained a deep regard for 
General Eustis, the former Colonel, was apparent on the 19th, 
when he was presented with an elegant sword by his late 
command, Major Parker making the presentation. The 
General accepted with appropriate language, manifesting a 
deep regard for those who had so bravely fallen in battle. 
Mr. Burdick Stewart, leader of the band so lately arrived, 
died Feb. 20th in the hospital. The body was sent home for 
burial on the forenoon of the next day, funeral dirges being 
played by a band of the Second Division, as the remains were 



Feb. 23, '(54 Dahlgren's Raid 247 

conveyed to the cars. In the afternoon the Chaplain preached 
feelingly from the text, "So teach us to number our days, 
that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." The only 
observance of the 22d was through the omission of drill. 

DAHLGREN'S RAID 

On the 23d, General Sedgwick reviewed the entire Corps, 
General Eustis commanding the Division. Colonel Edwards 
of the 37th Massachusetts conducted the brigade drill on the 
24th and the next day the bi-monthly visit of the paymaster 
was made. The month was not to expire without one more 
Quixotic attempt on Richmond. This time it was General 
Kilpatrick who directed the main cavalry movement while 
Col. Ulric Dahlgren led a forlorn hope of a few hundred men 
against, if not into, the city itself. That the attempt failed 
and that the brave but rash Colonel was killed are all matters 
of history. Our part was played as follows: the Sixth Corps 
and Custer's Cavalry were advanced against the Confederate 
left, leaving camp at 9.00 a. m. of the 28th, caiTymg four 
days' rations, blankets and overcoats. We went across the 
fields, past the residence of Unionist J. M. Botts, through the 
camp of the Third Corps, very comfortable and neat, through 
Culpeper which was not at all like the camp, and out along the 
dusty road leading to Madison Court House. 

Leaving behind us the infantry and the cavalry pickets in 
succession, we were in the enemy's country; a part not 
hitherto trodden by soldiers' feet. The fences were in position, 
and the population was lacking in able-bodied men; only 
women, children and aged men — all others being under arms. 
We encountered James City, which had a house or two besides 
the name, a companion to Charles City on the Peninsula. At 
night came picket duty, while those not thus employed 
attempted to sleep on the hard earth with only blanket and 
overcoat for protection — not a success by any means. The 
march had been so long and the road so hard there were few 
bHsterless feet in the entire Regiment. The morning of the 
28th came at last with the men ready to greet it and, after 



248 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

breakfast, we moved slowly forward until we reached Robert- 
son's River which, after a halt, we crossed and, going on about 
two miles, formed in battle line near Madison Court House 
and waited. The Jersey Brigade (First Division) advanced 
to the Court House, while we formed battle hne to defend the 
crossing. Here we remained while Custer and his cavalry, 
1,500 strong, made a raid on Charlottesville. Was there a 
part of Virginia identified with the lives of her distinguished 
sons not harried by the destructive hand of war? Mount 
Vernon and the tomb of Washington were in the very pathway 
of rival armies, and now Monticello, the grave of Jefferson, 
and the University of Virginia, his favorite project, were to 
hear the sound of raiding hoof-beats, if not the clash of re- 
sounding arms. 

The earher part of the day was pleasant, but at eventide a 
cold storm of rain set in and continued all night and all of the 
next day. It is a safe guess that there were few of those 
waiting thus in line of battle, ehgible to re -enlistment, who 
did not wish that they too had put down their names, and in 
their respective well-warmed northern homes were enjoving 
deserved furloughs, instead of breasting this pitiless north- 
easter as it beat down upon them, without tents or other 
shelter except such as veterans could improvise. Constant 
and ice cold, freezing as it fell or struck, the ground and the 
men were soon covered with ice. During all of Februarv's 
extra day, the 29th, for Leap Year comes in war as well as in 
peace, the storm continued with no variation except occasional 
snow and sleet. No particijjant in this experience ever forgot 
it. Thus February ended. 

March was a continuation of the same kind of weather, 
except that, in the afternoon of the 1st, rain changed to snow 
and, covering everything with a fleecy mantle, left those 
suffering soldiers to reflect and recover as best they might. 
At 4.00 p. m. the cavalry came back, as sorry looking a lot 
of horsemen as ever drew a sabre. They had gone down to 
the college town, had encountered some resistance, and in 
coming back had successfully charged a detachment of Stuart's 



Mar. 2-10, "64 Brandy Station 249' 

Cavalry but, on the whole, had accomplished little to com- 
pensate for the suffering entailed, not alone upon themselves- 
but upon all connected with the venture. The movement was- 
then a retrograde one and, recrossing the river, the troops 
encamped a mile beyond it. The 2d of March brought all back 
to their old camp, in very good spirits in spite of the vicissi- 
tudes suffered. The sun, coming out, soon melted the snow, 
the roads were fairly good, the air clear, cool and bracing,, 
and once more life seemed worth living. 

BRANDY STATION 

Camp life at Brandy Station on the Orange and Alexandria. 
Railroad, seventy miles from Washington, was not eventful, 
but it was as endurable as life away from home could be at 
any time. The chapel was a serviceable structure and con- 
tinued to afford diversion for the debaters, reading for the 
readers, and religious advantages for all. In some of the 
camps there were many officers' wives spending such portions 
of the winter and spring as the periodic raids and expeditions- 
would permit, and their presence gave color and life to the 
scene not otherwise possible. By the 7th the weather per- 
mitted the resumption of company and battalion drills. Not 
a few of the Massachusetts men were pleased over the assign- 
ment of Gen. David A. Russell, the former Colonel of the 
Seventh, to the command (temporary) of the Second Division, 
vice Gen. Albion P. Howe, who was transferred to Washington,, 
where he continued in command of the Artillery depot till 
the close of the war. But other and even weightier changes, 
were taking place in those days for a new name was about to- 
be added to the story of the Potomac Army. Ulysses S. Grant 
of the western armies, having been made Lieutenant General 
by the President and Congress, March 1, reached Washington 
the 8th, and on the next day was formally introduced to the 
President and Cabinet in the White House. On the 10th, 
invested with the chief command of all of the armies of the 
United States, he paid a flying visit to the headquarters of 
the Potomac Army at Brandy Station, and the next day 
(the 11th) returned to the West. 



250 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

The advent of General Grant meant the beginning of a 
campaign in which there would be no hold-up on account of the 
weather, but a "continuous hammering" to cease only with 
unconditional surrender at Appomattox. The eastern soldiers 
were ready for him and his methods; making no loud procla- 
mations, entirely free from boasting, he had already acquired a 
reputation for "doing things" and the boys were glad to 
greet him. Meanwhile, there was nothing of moment taking 
place with our men of the Tenth. The 16th varied the monot- 
ony a bit by a foot race between E. P. Reed of Company K 
and a Second Rhode Island man for a purse of fifty dollars in 
which Little Rhody was distanced twenty paces in a total 
of one hundred and twenty yards. Apparently considerable 
money changed hands in bets on the issue and one lucky 
Tenth man jumped to his feet, when the race was over, 
shouting, "Golly, I can have butter on my bread now." Gen. 
Thos. H. Neill of the Third Brigade, Second Division, reviewed 
the entire division on the 17th, while the 18th was significant 
in the return of Lieutenant Colonel Parsons and the beginning 
of the return of the re-enlisted veterans. There were indica- 
tions on the 19th of getting ready for the reception of General 
Grant who was soon to come back from the West and a grand 
review was to be in order. The chapel was again useful the 
21st, when Chaplain Beugless of the Second Rhode Island 
lectured therein on the subject of "Home," one that was 
pretty sure to secure hearers anywhere in army circles; our 
own Chaplain Perkins followed in the same vein. With the 
22d came a snow storm, and a first-class game of snow-balling 
reminded the soldiers of school days, and helped out the 
tedium of camp life. The 23d revealed quite six inches of 
snow which speedily disappeared under the sun's rays. 

Indications of an army movement appeared on the 24th 
when the sick were sent away; at noon we had orders to be 
in readiness at 2.00 p. m. for inspection by Lieutenant General 
Grant. The hour arrived and passed without a sight of 
the officer. As he had reached Washington only the day 
before, his appearance in camp could hardly be expected so 



May 26. '64 General Grant Arrives 251 

soon. He did, however, make his headquarters at Culpeper on 
the 26th, and thenceforward he was seldom far from the 
army to which he beheved was committed the task of battering 
down the walls of Secceshia. Wheaton's (Third) Brigade, at 
Harper's Ferry during the winter, returned to the Corps on 
the 28th, and the month concluded with orders to the effect 
that men who had served two years at sea might be trans- 
ferred to the navy. Also in the spring changes, the staunch 
old Army Corps, the First and Third, disappeared as indicated 
on page 243 and now we had only three Corps, viz, Second, 
Fifth and Sixth, (the Ninth semi-attached), our old Brigade 
becoming the Fourth of the Second Division, Gen. Geo. W. 
Getty commanding. Henceforth our blue cross of the Third 
Division was bleached to a pure white as the emblem of the 
Second. 

There was yet a full month of Hfe in camp at Brandy Station, 
varying little from that of March. While no annalist records 
the pranks of All Fools' Day it is hardly conceivable that 
several hundred healthy youngsters from Yankeeland would 
allow any opportunity for fun to pass unembraced. There is, 
however, a record for the 2d to the effect that the pa3^master 
was in camp, dispensing his accustomed blessings. The 
frequent mention of meetings in the chapel speaks volumes 
for the religious feeling prevalent in the camp. On the 7th, 
Fast Day in Massachusetts, there were services in the chapel 
both afternoon and evening. The picket line was a number 
of miles from camp and the tour of duty lasted three days, 
yet the boys did not especially dread it, since they formed 
new acquaintances during their hours off duty, and so gained 
what they were ever seeking — variety. General Getty, the new 
Commander of the Division, reviewed his forces on the 12th. 

With the advance of the season came all the indications of 
quickening Hfe, and athletics became exceedingly prevalent, 
and one item among many was a game of wicket on the 13th, 
between a picked team in the 37th and one drawn from the 
Tenth, resulting in a victory of two taUies for our boys. The 
15th had its dress parade, some of its Hveliest and best airs. 



252 The Tenth Massachusetts Ixfaxtrv 

from the brigade band, and an auction sale by the sutler of 
all his stores, the orders being that all of those people must 
be away by the morrow — another indication that there would 
be active operations ere long. All of the sutlers departed for 
Washington on the 16th. The Rev. Wm. I. Buddington of 
Brooklyn, N. Y., conducted services in the chapel, Sunday, 
the 17th. An eloquent and deeply religious clergyman who 
had spent a number of years in charge of a Charlestown, Mass., 
church, he made a deep and lasting impression on his hearers. 
The 18th is memorable in that on that day came the great 
lights to which the Corps was to took for many a day, viz. 
Grant, Meade and Sedgwick, each one a star in his particular 
sphere. The review was a grand affair for the soldiers and 
was not without its effect upon the Lieutenant General whose 
observations hitherto had been confined to Western troops. 
On that day also there was a hotly contested game of baseball 
between a team of the Tenth and one from the Second Rhode 
Island with victory again perching on the standards of the 
Tenth. 

On and after the 19th, Concord and Lexington Day at home, 
came target shoots with the best of results to those taking part. 
The 2od had another game of wicket between the 37th and 
the Tenth with our team again in the lead; also there was a 
target shoot in which First Sergt. M. H. Vincent of Companv 
H made the best shot. The Rhode Islanders and the Tenth 
had a return game of ball on the 26th, but it was lose again for 
Rhody's boys. While every day had its routine duties of 
fatigue, drill, inspection, etc., the diarist of the times took 
much of that sort for granted and laid special stress on the 
games played between representatives of the several regiments 
in the Brigade. This was not unnatural; had these same 
soldiers been at home every holiday in those beautiful April 
days would have seen them doing just what thev were per- 
mitted to do here. On the 28th the officers of the o7th played 
a game of our favorite baseball with the officers of the Tenth 
but, unhappily, the wearei-s of shoulder straps did not keep 
up the reputation won by their subordinates, since our officers 



May 1-3, '64 Baseball 253 

were defeated. A church organization in the Regiment having 
been effected, on the evening of the 29th several young soldiers 
made a public profession of religion and were taken into 
church fellowship. The month went out with yet another 
game of baseball, this time between representatives of the 
Tenth and players from the Jersey Brigade with the latter 
beaten by a score of fifteen to thirteen. 

Considering the momentous interests at stake and the dread 
record that was to be written for May, 1864, it seems not a 
little strange that the beautiful month was ushered in just as 
April went out, with baseball. While a game of ball and shell 
of terrible import was pending, these men of war, after all 
only boys of larger growth, happily ignorant of the future, 
were hilariously applauding the lucky hits and the swift 
running of bases clear up to the day before the movement 
across the Rapidan. It was on the 3d that Company I played 
Company G and won the game by twelve tallies, and with that 
day came orders to march in the morning at 4.00 a. m. Already 
troops were seen moving in the direction of Culpeper. On the 
4th of May began the "Battle Summer" for the Army of the 
Potomac, a season averaging more than two engagements a 
day for the Union armies, a period of such activity as America 
never saw before and it is to be hoped will never see again. 
General Grant had placed the interests of different sections 
of the debatable territory in competent hands, and now 
accompanying the Potomac Army, he directed its movements 
through his subordinates. 

WILDERNESS 

The familiar morning bugle call was heard at 2.30 on the 
4th, and at four o'clock all were in readiness to start. It was 
a perfect spring morning, just such as called forth from Samuel 
Adams the words, "What a glorious morning for American 
liberty," when, in the woods of Woburn, on the 19th of April, 
1775, he and John Hancock were noting the advance of the 
British troops on Lexington. That morning too was dedicated 
to Libert V and these " Bovs in Blue" are sworn to free the 



254 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

flag from further floating over slaves, and to keep the Union 
whole. Flowers strewed the wayside, while fences and forests 
were vibrant with the music of birds. It was eighteen miles 
to Germanna Ford, and no time was lost as the troops of the 
Fifth and Sixth Corps hurried thither, while those of the Second 
crossed at Ely's Ford, six miles further down the stream. 
The river was reached at 1.00 p. m. and. after crossing and an 
hour's rest, we went on a couple of miles, where line of battle 
was formed and the Regiment rested for the night, the last 
real night's rest enjoyed by the men before thev drew out of 
line through expiration of service. We started with baggage 
of old-time proportions, including shelter tent, rubber and 
woolen blankets and overcoat, but long before the river was 
reached, every man had lessened his burden bv one or more 
articles on the list. 

At intervals, for three years the Army of the Potomac had 
been crossing the Rapidan ; perhaps no stream in the theatre 
of war had been crossed more often. It had been crossed, too, 
in advance and retreat, but henceforth the footsteps of our 
soldiery were to point in one direction only, and that was to 
the front, until the end was reached. The Iron Man who made 
no provisions for falling back at Shiloh, who never lost a 
battle and never retreated a single inch was now in control, 
and his army was to become accustomed to the constant roll 
and roar of musketry and, grown used to the din and dis- 
sonance, the soldiers ate. drank, slept, encamped, marched, 
fought and died in confusion indescribable. Absolute quiet 
would have kept them awake, and thus for almost a year, 
reahzing what "hard pounding" meant, the Confederacy was 
to be worn out and, over the scene at Appomattox, April 
9, '65, "Finis " was to be written. Before our armv, a hundred 
thousand strong, were posted the hosts of Lee; if not as 
numerous, they were every whit as brave, and both arrays 
were approaching the death grapple with the knowledge and 
experience resulting from nearly three years of campaigning. 
No opposition was offered at the crossing. The Confederate 
leader had his forces well in hand, though uncertain whether 



May 5, '64 Wilderness i55 

it was his right or left flank that was to be assailed ; in either 
event he was read}^ to move upon the army when across the 
river. 

So nearly continuous were the battles from the Rapidan to 
Petersburg, it was difficult to tell where one ended and the 
next began. The Wilderness, however, is assigned to May 
5th, 6th and 7th, though from May 5th to the 18th, it would be 
difficult to find a soldier of those days who would not claim 
that it was one constant fight. The Wilderness, into which 
the Union forces were about to plunge was first encountered 
just a year before in the Chancellorsville battle, but its extent 
and variety were not realized then. Wholly unknown to the 
Federal leaders, it was thoroughly understood by the Con- 
federates and its peculiar features were worth many thousands 
of men to them. Swinton says: 

It is impossible to conceive a field worse adapted to the 
movements of a grand army. The whole face of the country 
is thickly wooded, with only an occasional opening, and inter- 
sected by a few narrow wood roads. But the woods of the 
Wilderness have not the ordinary features of a forest. The 
region rests on a bed of mineral rocks, and, for above a hundred 
years, extensive mining has been carried on. To feed the 
mines, the timber of the country for many miles around has 
been cut down, and in its place there has arisen a dense growth 
of low-limbed and scraggy pines, stiff and bristhng chinkapins, 
scrub oaks and hazel. It is a region of gloom and the shadow 
of death. Manoeuvring here was necessarily out of the ques- 
tion, and only Indian tactics told. The troops could receive 
direction only by the points of the compass; for not only 
were the lines of battle entirely hidden from the sight of the 
commander, but no officer could see ten files on each side of 
him. Artillery was wholly ruled out of use ; the massive con- 
centration of three hundred guns stood silent, and only an 
occasional piece or section could be brought into play in the 
roadsides. Cavalry was still more useless. But in that horrid 
thicket there lurked 200,000 men, and through it lurid fires 
played, and, though no array of battle could be seen, there came 
out of its depths the crackle and roar of musketry, like the noisy 
boiline of some hell-caldron that told the dread story of death. 



256 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

By way of further explanation, it may be stated that the 
mines there were first worked early in the 18th century by 
Alexander Spottswood, then Governor of Virginia. By turning 
the last syllable of the Governor's name into Latin, we have 
the name of the county, Spottsylvania, over which so much 
of marching and fighting was done during the war. The story 
of the three days' fight through those almost impenetrable 
thickets has been told by voice, pen and print many a time. 
On the Union side were the Second, Fifth, Sixth and Ninth 
Corps, under Hancock, Warren, Sedgwick and Burnside. 
Indeed these men were in command of their respective Corps 
clear down to Petersburg, except for the death of Sedgwick 
at Spottsylvania, when he was succeeded by H. G. Wright, 
till then in command of the First Division. Meade, supervised 
by Grant, was at the head of the Union army. On the side of 
the Confederates were the corps of A. P. Hill, Ewell, and that 
of Longstreet, the same having returned from its trip to 
Chickamauga and Eastern Tennessee, with Lee over all. On 
the morning of the 5th, Hancock was on the extreme Union 
left, Warren was in the center, and Sedgwick held the right; 
the Ninth under Burnside had not as yet come up.* 

In general, the story of the Sixth Corps for the day was this: 
Sedgwick, on the extreme right, had only Wright's Divi- 
sion (First), Neill's Brigade (Third) of the Second Division 
(the remainder of the Division having gone to strengthen, 
AVarren's left) with a single brigade of Seymour's (Second) 
of Rickett's (Third) Division, added late in the afternoon, the 
other brigade having been ordered to hold Germanna Crossing 
until the coming of Burnside and his men. The attacks of 
the enemy upon the Union line were repeated and furious 



*It is a noteworthy coincidence that Burnside's Corps, having been 
in the Southwest more than a year, and having been recruited up to 
full ranks and assigned to guard duty along the Orange and Alex- 
andria Railroad started for the Rapidan in time to cross the same at 
Germanna Ford late in the afternoon of the 5th; at the same time a 
heavy cloud of dust at the right, attracting attention, proved to be 
made by the approach of Longstreet's forces which the Ninth Corps 
had fought so valiantly at Knoxville the preceding winter, like itself 
now come to reinforce the Virginian Army, though on the other side. 



May 5, '64 Wilderness 257 

though ineffectual. At 3.30 p. m. so great had been the 
sufferings of the Corps, Sedgwick sent a messenger to Burn- 
side for assistance which was promised, but Grant making 
other use of the Ninth Corps, the Sixth was left to fight its 
battle alone, which it managed to do in spite of its depleted 
condition. Our quest, however, is with the Second Division 
and the Fourth Brigade. Early in the day, the First, Second 
and Fourth 'Brigades with the Division Commander, Gen. 
Geo. W. Getty, had been detached from the Sixth Corps and 
sent to Warren's left to seize and hold the intersection of the 
Brock road and the Orange County turnpike, a point of great 
importance and now entirely exposed. Towards this point 
A. P. Hill was hastening his forces to interpose himself, if 
possible, between the two sections of the Union army. 
Wheaton's First Brigade became engaged first, the Vermont 
Brigade formed on the left of the plank road, while that of 
Eustis, the Fourth, formed on the right of Wheaton. The 
fight became general at once and the men hugged the ground 
•closely, firing as rapidly as possible. The slaughter along this 
part of the line was fearful and the story of the part performed 
by the Tenth Regiment is herewith given: 

Colonel Parsons was ordered by General Eustis, command- 
ing the Brigade, to throw out skirmishers, and Companies 
H and F were deployed across the front of the two advanced 
regiments. In this position the whole line rested until half- 
past three, when the skirmishers, who were only three rods in 
front of the line of battle, were ordered to advance, which they 
did, quickly followed by the whole line. Soon after Lieutenant 
Eaton (F) of the skirmishers was shot through the leg and 
disabled, and obliged to retire from the field. The skirmishers 
from Company F, and part of Company H, fell back on the Regi- 
ment ; but a portion of the latter company, under command of 
Lieutenant Midgley, were unable to retire, as they were now be- 
tween the Second Rhode Island and the enemy, and exposed to 
a terrible infantry fire from both sides. They were obHged to lie 
flat on the ground, and kept up a fire on the enemy in that posi- 
tion. When the regiment on the right of the Tenth broke, the 
skirmishers, who had been caught between the lines of battles, 
endeavored to get back to our line ; a large proportion succeeded, 



258 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

but several, among them the gallant Midgley (H), received mor- 
tal wounds while endeavoring to get to their proper position in 
the line. Midgley was shot through the knee, and the bone 
was terribly shattered, rendering amputation necessary. All 
this time not an enemy could be seen. Perfectly covered by 
the woods and abatis, we could only fire at the direction 
of the flashes of light and puffs of smoke from their rifles, 
while our men could undoubtedly be very distinctly seen by 
them. The Thirty-Seventh was quickly advanced to the 
position vacated by the Second, and became at once engaged, 
partially drawing the fire that had been concentrated on the 
Tenth. The Tenth stood this terrible ordeal of fire until 
they had expended all their ammunition, and were then 
promptly relieved by the Seventh, under command of the 
gallant Lieutenant Colonel Harlow. 

Here fell West Springfield's noble son and soldier, Lieut. 
William Arthur Ashley (I), while waving his sword in front 
of his company, cheering them on by word and example. He 
was shot through the head, the ball passing directly over the 
right eye, and fell, expiring instantly. His last words were, 
"Forward boys," to his beloved soldiers. The Tenth, upon 
being relieved, fell back to the crest of the hill, and were there 
supplied with more ammunition; then fell back nearer the 
road, and stayed until nine o'clock, when they again moved 
forward over the ground where the hard fighting of the day 
had been done. The enemy had retired some distance from 
his former position, and the Tenth passed over to where had 
been his line of battle and lay on their arms. The result of 
the firing could be seen in the large number of Rebel dead 
with which the ground was thickly strewn. When the firing 
ceased, four men of Company I took the lifeless form of their 
beloved commander, wrapped in his blanket, and carried it 
to where they had left the Regiment. But it had moved to 
another position, and they were obliged to leave their precious 
burden after attaching to it the name, rank and regiment, 
intending to return as soon as possible and give it proper 
burial. This intention was frustrated by the constant moving 
of the Regiment, and to other hands was left the solemn task. 
The casualties for the day in the Regiment footed up to one 
hundred and fifteen, killed and wounded; about one-third 
the whole number engaged. 

The Tenth, still doing duty with the Second Corps, was 
placed in the second Hne of battle on the 6th. The Massachu- 
setts veteran brigade, consisting of the Fifty-Sixth, Fifty- 



May 6, '64 ' Wilderness 259 

Seventh, Fifty-Eighth and Fifty-Ninth Regiments, was in its 
immediate front, and a movement on the enemy was at once 
commenced. The front Hne became engaged about ten o'clock 
and continued the action nearly an hour, suffering terribly 
in officers and men, the Fifty-Seventh losing two hundred and 
fifty-one, out of an aggregate of five hundred and forty-five. 
The Fiftv-Sixth lost seventy-six killed, wounded and prisoners, 
and the Fifty-Eighth thirty-four. The loss in the Fifty-Ninth 
was comparatively small. The above regiments were all re- 
enlisted veterans, and nearly every man had been under fire. 
The Second Brigade, of which the Tenth was a part, was moved 
from point to point, as occasion required, suffering the loss 
of twelve men, and one officer. Captain Shurtleff (H) was 
severely wounded for the third time, this time by a Minie ball 
through the arm. After noon the Second Brigade retired to ^ 
the left of the road, taking position behind some breastworks 
that had been thrown up the night before, and lay until nearly 
dark, when they were relieved by a brigade of the Second 
Corps, and ordered to rejoin their own (Sixth) Corps, on the 
extreme right. Much as they disUked the thought of a tire- 
some night's march, they contemplated with satisfaction the 
prospect of once more being among their old comrades. 
Being temporarily detached and doing duty with other com- 
mands was anything but agreeable. 

The vicissitudes of the day had been many on the right. 
Repeatedly assaulted, as often the enemy had been driven 
back till, late in the afternoon, the Third Division of the Sixth 
Corps had given way. General Seymour, commanding the 
Second Brigade, was captured in trying to rally his men, but 
owing to the strenuous efforts of Sedgwick, and the experienced 
soldiers of the other brigades, the troops were again pressed 
forward, till the breastworks were reoccupied. It was to 
strengthen the right fiank that the Second Division, including 
our brigade, was ordered to rejoin its own Corps. Twice was 
the extreme right, held by Neill's Brigade, assailed during the 
night, but each time the enemy was repulsed with great loss, 
while scarcely a man in our ranks was injured and, through 
the remainder of the night, the cries of the wounded Rebels 
burdened and saddened the air. General Getty, commanding 
the Second Division, was wounded and his place was taken 
bv General Neill of the Third Brigade. 



260 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

In this story little has been given concerning the services 
of the medical department. No one in the entire army was 
of greater utility than the good surgeon; also no one was of 
less value than the ignorant or unfaithful medical officer. 
The Regiment itself was particularly fortunate, but many 
men secured positions whose appetite for strong drink was 
stronger than their sense of duty. During and after the 
Wilderness, there were many notable instances of the latter 
class and First Sergeant Marshall A. Potter of Company G 
gives the following illustration: 

In the ambulance with me was a brave soldier who had lost 
a leg above the knee and in one of those weary days when we 
were passing over the rough roads, I never heard him com- 
plain, up to the time of the incident, when he said to me, "I 
fear that the bandage is working off the stump of my leg. 
If not attended to, it will get to bleeding." I watched for a 
surgeon and soon saw one and called for him to come, before 
noticing that he was intoxicated and unfit for duty. As he 
came up the steps of the ambulance, he fell forward into the 
same and one of his knees struck the sore stump of the wounded 
leg, and set it to bleeding. Crying out with pain, the poor 
fellow said, "You have killed me." The doctor replied that 
he had not hurt him, and did his best to undo his carelessness, 
but it was too late, for the poor soldier, already weak from 
loss of blood, gave up in despair and never regained his 
courage. We were soon separated and I saw him no more 
but I heard that the heedless act of the drunken officer had 
caused his death. 

The dawn of the 7th did not witness any great anxiety on 
the part of either Grant or Lee to renew the combat. Appar- 
ently the former had modified somewhat his notion that the 
Eastern army " did not fight its battles out." , At any rate the 
fighting of that day was mainly done by the cavalry at Todd's 
Tavern, a severe but indecisive engagement. Lee was no 
longer aggressive, his losses having been such as to teach him 
caution and the Union skirmish line found the enemy behind 
his intrenchments, probably willing to be attacked, but not 
going out in search of trouble. Our Regiment found work in 
the afternoon throwing up breastworks to protect the right 



May 8, '64 Towards Spottsylvania 261 

flank, but towards night we were ordered to be ready to march 
at dusk. The loss of 18,000 men during the two days, while 
that of Lee was less than half that number, had taught Grant 
a lesson in discretion which he was about to put into execu- 
tion, by beginning his famous flank movement southward. 
Starting at 9.30 p. m., alternately marching and halting, by 
morning we had accomplished about five miles, bringing us 
near the position of Hancock at the beginning of the fight, 
and also that of Hooker in the Chancellorsville engagement. 
Other commanders might have again sought the other side 
of the Rapidan, but Grant had no liking for his old camping 
places and, if he could not march straight towards the Rebel 
Capital, he could and did sidestep and so compelled the enemy 
to seek new defenses. That men can see the lighter side even 
of the battle field was evident when the Rebel bands were 
heard as they played most forcefully, really for Union ears, 
"Ain't I glad at gettin' out o' the Wilderness." The complete 
answer of our boys was reserved for Appomattox. 

SPOTTSYLVANIA 

Grant was desirous of placing himself between Lee and 
Richmond ; to this end he was now moving his forces towards 
Spottsylvania Court House, fifteen miles distant from the late 
battle field. His wagon trains had started in the afternoon, 
a fact that could not be concealed from the foe and the latter 
immediately became active also. Seeming to divine the 
intentions of the Union Commander, Lee had hastened 
E well's Corps and a part of Longstreet's to Spottsylvania by 
an inner and thus shorter route, so that when Warren and his 
Fifth Corps appeared their reception was ready also. The 
Sixth breakfasted, on the 8th, near the ruins of the Chancel- 
lorsville House and soon followed after the Fifth Corps. The 
day was the hottest of the season thus far, and in spite of all 
efforts to the contrary there was considerable falling out of 
ranks through sheer exhaustion. Notwithstanding all hinder- 
ances, the Corps was on the field at 2.00 p. m., and ready to 
assist Warren and his forces. Again turning to the account 
of Newell, we have the following: 



262 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

The General commanding the brigade having been informed, 
and feehng confident that there was still another line in advance 
of the one which we were connected with, ordered the front 
line of his brigade to move forward and connect with said line, 
which proved to be simply a skirmish line. While this was 
being done, the right became hotly engaged and were obliged 
to fall back, which they did for nearly a mile, but without our 
knowledge at the time. After conferring with the General 
commanding the brigade, a position was selected favorable 
to receive and repel an attack, and videttes were selected to 
advance and watch the enemy. They soon reported a line 
of Rebels advancing. The two regiments lay perfectly quiet 
until the enemy had advanced to within a few rods, when they 
poured a volley into them which sent them whirling back in 
confusion. From prisoners captured at this time we learned 
that there were two brigades of the enemy in our front. 
Three separate times did they advance and endeavor to drive 
us from our position during the night, and each time w^ere 
handsomely repulsed. 

During that night, by masterly and rapid movements, the 
Confederate general so disposed his forces as to stand squarely 
and firmly across the path of the Army of the Potomac, and 
was constantly strengthening his position by entrenchments 
which grew more formidable every hour. In that position 
Lee was able to hold the National army in check twelve days. 
Early on the morning of the 9th the line was re-established, 
and the Tenth was withdrawn from the front and placed in 
rifle pits thrown up during the night. There was continual 
skirmishing all day, and the Rebel sharpshooters were busy 
adding to our list of casualties. One of their fatal missiles 
inflicted irreparable injury to the National cause, and deprived 
the Sixth Corps of its gallant commander, Gen. John Sedg- 
wick. He was giving directions for strengthening the entrench- 
ments in the front, and had been bantering some of his men, 
who dodged the singing of the Rebel bullets, when a too 
well-aimed bullet crashed through his brain, killing him 
instantly. There was sincere mourning throughout the army. 
The soldiers all knew "Uncle John" and loved and revered 
him as only soldiers can love and revere true bravery and 
heroism. The loyal people of the land felt bereaved, for a 
true patriot had fallen. He fell but a short distance to the 
right, and in plain sight of the Tenth. 

No battle story is complete without reference to premoni- 
tions andtheir realizations. Bodman of Company E relates that 



May 9, '64 



Wright Succeeds Sedgwick 



263 



a favorite subject of four comrades, as they considered the 
possibilities of the Spring Campaign, was whether they would 
go through all right. Of the number, J. B. Chase was mortally 
wounded in the Wilderness, May 5th; Sergeant Thompson 
wrote in his diary, "If I'm killed, send picture and diary to 
mv drl and I'll do the same for vou." He was shot dead 




MARYE HOUSE, 
On the Heights, Fredericksburg 



SEDGWICK MONUMENT, 

On the spot where he fell May 9, '64, 

Spottsylvania. 

May 18th at Spottsylvania. Shubael Winslow was mortally 
wounded in April, 1865, when in the 37th Regiment and only 
Bodman survived to tell the story. 

Gen. H. G. Wright succeeded the lamented Sedgwick in 
the command of the Sixth Corps. Gen. D. A. Russell followed 
in the command of the First Division; General Eustis took 
Russell's old brigade and Col. Ohver Edwards was advanced 
to the head of the Fourth Brigade. The Tenth Regiment was 
behind the breastworks, wdien about noon of the 10th it was 
ordered to the front in a grove of pines and supported the 
picket Hne. Shelhng from heavy guns was kept up by both 
armies all day. Several assaults were made during the day 
by our troops on the enemy's entrenchments, but each time 
we were forced to retire. Two brigades of the Sixth Corps, 
under Generals Russell and Upton, were successful, and 
captured some nine hundred prisoners, but were obliged to 
fall back for want of support, taking their prisoners along 
with them. During that day's engagement some nine 
thousand Unionists and eight thousand Confederates were 
reported killed, wounded and captured. 



264 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

List of casualties in the Tenth, from May 5th to May 11th: 

Company A — Wounded, Capt. W. I. Bishop, left eye, by 
pine limb; Sergt. M. B. Beach, left wrist; Corp. Lee Cum- 
mings, thigh, severe; Russell L. Chadwick, severe; Solomon 
D. Ne^\i;on, hand and neck; G. R. Pendleton, groin; Hugh 
McGee, hand; C. B. Scudder, shoulder. 

Company B — Killed, Russell F. Hunt, Stephen W. Hickox, 
Orrin S. Harwood. Wounded, First Sergt. William E. Briggs,. 
hand, slight; Corp. Hiland H. Fuller, foot, severe; Corp. 
C. C. Wiley, hip, slight; Peter Galligan, foot; Levi R. Green, 
groin, severe; Christopher G. Houghtiling, leg, slight; John 
Reillv, leg, severe; James W. Sheldon, leg, slight; James W. 
Wallace, leg, slight. 

Company C — Wounded, Corp. Judson W^. Harris, thigh, 
mortally; Norman S. Cornwell, foot, severe; Francis E. Hart- 
well, arm, severe; George Reynolds, wrist, severe; Robert 
Sheehey, hand. 

Company D — Killed, Sergt. George W. Cousens, Corp. 
Clifton Roth, James Cassidy. Wounded, First Sergt. O. W. 
Pierce, thigh, severe; Corp. George S. Kellogg, lung, severe;. 
Corp. David Hamill, leg, slight; Corp. James Finnican, hand, 
slight; Charles H. Shaw, ankle, severe; James Wetherbee, 
hand, slight; Peter Bolter, shoulder, slight. 

Company E— Killed, Corp. Jonas B. Chase. W^ounded, 
Second Lieut. Simeon N. Eldridge, arm, slight; Corp. John 
Day, head, severe; Corp. Lewis T. Black, thigh, slight; Corp. 
Levi W. Black, neck, slight; Charles E. Adams, leg; Henry 
B. Barton, knee; Daniel M. Barton, groin, serious; Charles 
H. Day, shoulder, severe; Edgar Clough, arm, slight; Ed- 
ward Dunphy, leg, slight; Charles Hickey, leg, slight; Luther 
Hitchcock, knee; Thomas Shannon, scalp, slight; James 
Londergan, hand; William J. Skidmore, scalp, slight; Henry 
A. Wiggins, thigh, severe; John W. Templeman, arm, mortally. 

Company F — Wounded, First Lieut. L. O. Eaton, leg, 
severe; Michael Moffat, body, mortally; Benjamin F. Wicker- 
sham, hip, serious. 

Company G — Killed, Gains T. Wright. Wounded, Sergt. 
Marshall A. Potter, hips, serious; Corp. H. N. Dodge, both 
legs, mortally; Corp. Marshall M. Wait, leg, slight; Frank 
Ripley, both legs, mortally; Dorvil M. Wilcox, leg, slight; 
Albert Smith, head, slight; Oscar J. Gilligan, hand, slight;. 
William H. Scott, foot, slight; George Garland, breast, 
mortally. 

Company H — Killed, Corp. Welcome F. Cone, John R. 
Campbell, Michael Gorman, Charles W. Russell. Wounded,, 



May 11, '64 Spottsylvania 265- 

Capt. Flavel Shurtleff, arm, slight; Second Lieut. A. E. 
Midgley, knee, mortally; Sergt. Joseph F. Bartlett, thigh, 
slight; Frank D. Bardwell, hand, slight; Clement F. Drake, 
arm and hand, slight; John W. Hersey, head, shght; Willard 
Lamb, thigh, mortally; Charles Russell, finger off; John E. 
Austin, arm, slight. 

Company I — Killed, First Lieut. WilHam Arthur Ashley, 
John E. Casey. Wounded, Corp. Stephen W. Read, body, 
severe; Corp. James A. Baldwin, side, mortally; Corp. 
Martin Card, heel, slight; Corp. Francis Cahill, both legs, 
slight; Enoch Clark, face, slight; Michael B. Corkery, both 
legs, severe; Charles L. Hartwell, head, slight; Dwight O. 
Judd, finger; Joseph Kehy, arm, slight; David Riley, hand;. 
Charles H. Decie, hand, shght; WilHam R. Worthington, 
hand, slight; Edward P. Smith, arm, slight; Corp. Hanniel 
P. Smith, hand, slight. 

Company K — Killed, John W. Jones, George Robinson, 
Ephraim T. Moore, Samuel Sprague. Wounded, First Lieut. 
E. H. Graves, body, severe; Sergt. Joseph Gaddes, leg, mor- 
tally; Corp. James M. Noble, arm, slight; Horace H. Gorham, 
leg, slight; Thomas Moore, leg and shoulder, slight; Andrew 
Marcell, leg, slight; John Neff, ankle, mortally; Corp. Theo- 
dore Sargent, leg, slight; John Solomon, foot, severe; John 
Trainer, breast, mortally; George W. Thompson, arm, slight;. 
Thomas Wallace, leg, slight. 

May 11th was spent mostly by our army in preparing for 
another battle. There was reconnoitering of positions, and 
attendant skirmishing, more or less, along the whole line. The 
Tenth was reheved on the picket, which was at the same time 
the skirmish line, early in the morning, moved to the left and 
took position that had previously been occupied by General 
Wheaton, and lay in this position all day. The afternoon was 
rainy, and the night that followed was dark and dismal, the 
clouds were thick, and the rain still fell. Preparation had been 
going on all day and into the night, for the battle of the morrow. 
In the morning, General Grant sent his famous dispatch to 
the Secretary of War. The dispatch sent an electric thrill 
to the uttermost parts of the Union, inspiring the whole North 
with hope that the dark clouds, that seemed to settle upon 
the operations of the Army of the Potomac, were soon to be 
dispelled for the clear day of victory and peace. The dispatch 
read as follows, and was dated at eight o'clock in the mornmg: 

"We have now ended the sixth day of very hard fighting. The- 
result to this time is much in our favor. Our losses have been heavy,. 



266 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

as well as those of the enemy. I think the loss of the enemy must be 
greater. We have taken over five thousand prisoners by battle, 
while he has taken from us but few, except stragglers. 1 propose to 
fight it out on this line if it takes all summer." 

Near dark the Tenth left the rifle pits and bivouacked near 
by for the night. 

' One of the severest battles the Regiment was ever engaged 
in was that of the 12th. General Grant had decided, the 
evening before, to strike General Lee in his most vulnerable 
point. The position was the right center of the Confederate 
line, and General Hancock was selected to strike the blow. 
At midnight of the 11th, Hancock started from in front of 
Hill's Rebel Corps, and moved quietly to the left, guided only 
by the compass, and took position near the Sixth Corps, to 
be in readiness for the morning work. At the appointed hour 
he moved, tinder cover of a dense fog, swiftly and noiselessly 
over the broken and thickly-wooded ground, towards the sali- 
ent of an earthwork, occupied by the division of Gen. Edward 
Johnson, of Ewell's Corps. At a proper moment, the silence 
was broken by loud cheers, as the brigades of Barlow and 
Birney dashed upon the works in a fierce charge, fought hand 
to hand with bayonets and clubbed muskets, and captured 
Johnson with almost his entire division, who were breakfasting. 
With these. Gen. George H. Stewart and his two brigades 
were made prisoners, and nearly thirty guns and many colors 
were the trophies. Hancock sent over three thousand pris- 
oners back to Grant, with a note written in pencil, saying, "I 
have captured from thirty to forty guns. I have finished up 
Johnson, and am going into Early." It afterwards appeared 
that he had almost captured Lee, and cut the Confederate 
Army in two. 

The Fourth Brigade, to which the Tenth was attached, was 
ordered to take position in the rifle pits captured by Hancock, 
which the enemy was determined to retake at whatever cost, 
and for twenty-three continuous hours they were subjected 
to the most terrible fire of musketry. The right of the Tenth 
was close to the Rebel right, both fighting over the same 
works, only a few feet of space intervening. The Rebels 
charged repeatedly on the position held by the Tenth. Some- 
times the fighting was so close that the muskets of the enemy 
were knocked aside, and in some instances wrenched from 
their hands. Many examples of bravery and daring were 
displayed on both sides. The Regiment in that day's struggle 
expended three hundred rounds of ammunition, and, as 



May 12, '64 Spottsylvaxia 267 

before stated, was actively engaged twenty-three hours. 
Here Major Parker, Captain Wetherell (C), and Lieutenant 
Munyan (H), officers distinguished for bravery on many a 
field, were mortally wounded. Captains Knight (E), Johnson 
(K) and Gilmore (D) were all severely wounded, and many 
brave non-commissioned officers and men were killed or 
maimed for life on that bloody day. All creditably acquitted 
themselves, and all that remained of the gallant Tenth covered 
themselves, time and again, with honor and distinction. A 
heavy rain was falling all the time to add to the discomforts 
of the position, and all day and all night the Tenth was under 
a murderous fire. Probably there never was a battle where 
bullets flew so thick. Two years afterwards, a visitor on the 
battle ground said, "Full one-half of the trees of the wood, 
at a point where the fiercest struggle ensued within the salient 
of the Confederate works, were dead, and nearly all the others 
j5V-ere scarred from the effect of musket balls." At the War 
Department, Washington, may be seen a portion of a trunk 
of a large oak tree, twenty-one inches in diameter, cut in two 
by musket balls alone. The whole history of warfare, ancient 
or modern, cannot give another such circumstance. The 
Regiment was all this time under command of Lieutenant 
Colonel Parsons, nobly seconded by the gallant captains and 
lieutenants, and non-commissioned officers and privates of 
the glorious old Tenth. 

It was in that 12th of May fight that James E. Wilson of 
Company H had the adventure of his life. In one of the rifle 
pit contests when the regiment on our right gave way, several 
of our men were caught too near the enemy and were obliged 
to surrender. Being ordered to go to the rear, all obeyed 
except Wilson, who crouched down below the breastworks, 
for the rain of lead from the Union side meant death to any 
one exposed. The Rebs drove him out, for they wanted that 
hole themselves, and he sought refuge behind a stump a couple 
of rods in the rear. Here he remained two hours, hugging the 
ground for his life, seeing in the interval three lines of battle 
creep over and past him into the pit, there to die for the 
"cause," if not already lost, at least doomed. The pit was 
literally filled with Confederate dead. When a flag of truce 
went up and the firing ceased, Wilson improved the chance 
to bound up from his hiding place and to run over the dead 
Rebels into our lines, unharmed. 

Killed, wounded and missing in the Tenth, in the engage- 
ment of Mav 12th: 



268 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

Major Dexter F. Parker, arm, mortally. 

Company A — Killed, Frank Cardney. Wounded, Davis 
Hart, right breast, mortally; Rufus Pervere, foot, severe. 

Company B — Wounded, John H. Walker, groin, severe. 
Missing and a prisoner, Rosser Jenkins. 

Company C — Killed, Sergt. James H. Abbott. Wounded, 
Capt. James H. Wetherell, knee, mortally; Sergt. Joseph 
P. Coburn, color bearer, head, slight; Corp. John C. Clark, 
head and shoulders, mortally; Corp. Nelson 0. Ball, color 
guard, knee; Martin Kennedy, leg, severe; Samuel Irvine, 
side, mortally. Missing and a prisoner, Sergt. Sidney S. 
Williams. 

Company D — Killed, Samuel Burbank Richard Ryan, 
Alonzo C. Brewer. Wounded, Capt. Homer G. Gilmore, leg, 
severe; Sergt. Samuel B. Cook, face, slight; Corp. Thomas 
Duffy, mortally; Henry Noble, side, mortally ; Guy Bard well, 
mortally. Missing and prisoners, Sergt. Henry R. Davis, 
Daniel A. Mullet, John Burns. 

Company E — Killed, Sergt. Charles W. Thompson, Corp. 
George Ellis, color guard. Wounded, Capt. Edwin L. Knight, 
groin, severe; First Sergt. Jesse Prickett, leg, slight; Sergt. 
Ichabod S. Paddock, both legs; Corp. George W. Talbot, neck; 
Samuel Crawford, hand, slight; John O'Brien, leg, slight; 
William Thompson, head, mortally; William Warrillow, hand, 
slight; James Walsh, slight. 

Company F — Wounded, Corp. Lorenzo Averill, arm, slight; 
Corp. Jared C. Hunt, arm, mortally; William D. Keyes, 
finger, slight; Edward P. Coomes, hand, slight. 

Company G — Wounded, Sergt. John Pooley; Alfred A. 
Jewett, foot, severe; Frederick M. Nixon, leg, slight; Francis 
Williams, leg, severe; Frederick W. Potter, shoulder. Missing 
and a prisoner, Oscar JIale. 

Company H — Killed, Corp. Lucien Fogg, Josiah S. Emer- 
son, James Conners. Wounded. Lieut. Alanson E. Munyan, 
groin, mortally; Edward P. Conant, hand, slight; John 
Hermann, hand, slight; Albert B. Clark, leg, severe. Missing 
and prisoners, First Sergt. Micajah H. Vincent, William H. 
Bemis, John A. Franklin, Charles B. Dole. 

Company I — Wounded, First Sergt. Henry M. Converse, 
hip, sHght; Sergt. John R. Walker, thigh, shght. 

Company K — Killed, James Dinneen. Wounded, Capt. 
Edwin T. Johnson, head, slight ; Wilham G. Lay, slight. 

Concerning the fatal wounding of Major Parker, the follow- 
ing words are taken from Marvin's "Worcester in the War:" 



May 13, '64 Spottsylvania 269 

Three successive charges were made and Major Parker at 
the head of his men led the attack. The enemy was checked 
but the Major received a wound which proved to be mortal. 
While in the rifle pits which our troops had captured from 
the enemv, a Minie ball struck and shattered his right arm. 
He was sent back to Fredericksburg with Myron P. Walker 
as a personal help. Strong hopes were cherished of saving the 
arm, but in eight days it was found that amputation was 
necessary. After the operation it was expected that he would 
recover, but following a second operation the shock to his 
system was too great, and towards the last of May he suddenly 
failed. His wife hastened to Washington and arrived on 
Saturday the 28th, in time to be with him in the closing days 
of his life. He was conscious to the last and expired in the 
afternoon of Monday, the 30th of May. J. H. Hendrick, 
Company F, who helped carry the wounded officer off the 
field says that Parker groaned out, "I wouldn't care anything 
for this, were it not for Tommy," referring to his horse, not 
knowing that his steed was already out of pain and misery. 
(Vide p. 278.) 

Early in the morning of the 13th, the enemy, findmg their 
efforts futile, abandoned their attempts to retake the works, 
and the Tenth was relieved and sent half a mile to the rear 
for rest. The battle field, at the point directly in front of 
the ground held by the Regiment, beggared description. The 
dead and wounded of the enemy were literally piled in together, 
three, four and five deep, showing how fearful had been the 
struggle, and that the ammunition expended in the last 
twenty-four hours had not been in vain. The loss of the 
enemy at this point far exceeded our own. The Federal Army 
had lost, in the space of eight days, nearly thirty thousand 
men ; still the indomitable Grant saw so much encouragement 
in the situation that that morning, through General Meade, 
he issued a congratulatory order to the troops, in which he 
recapitulated the achievements of the Campaign. He told 
them that their work was not yet done, but that everything 
was encouraging. "We shall soon receive re-inforcements," 
he said, "which the foe cannot expect. Let us determine to 
continue vigorously the work so well begun, and under God's 
blessing, in a short time, the object of our labors will be 
accomplished." It really seemed as though the "backbone" 
of the RebelHon was broken. About four o'clock in the after- 
noon the Tenth moved half a mile to the right, and bivouacked 
for the night. 



270 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

We moved before daylight of the 14th into the woods in 
the rear of Burnside's Hne, and halted at 8.00 a. m. for break- 
fast. At 4.30 p. m., we started again, and moved a little to the 
left and front, and formed line of battle at Coventry, on a 
beautiful plantation two miles from Spottsylvania Court 
House. Our batteries opened, and were replied to by the 
enemy. Skirmishing continued in our front, but there was 
no general engagement. That night and the following fore- 
noon (15th);we threw up a rifle pit, and the Chaplain held 
services in it in the afternoon. Our Division was the extreme 
left of the army. Everything was quiet all day. Roused up 
at 4.00 a. m the 16th, and kept under arms half an hour. 
The regimental recruiting party returned that day from Mass- 
achusetts. On the morning of the 17th, the Tenth and the 
Third Vermont were ordered to make a reconnoissance on the 
enemy's right flank, drive in his cavalry, and find the exact 
location of his infantry. The Tenth took the advance, driving 
the enemy's cavalry about five miles, when we came upon the 
infantry, strongly posted in a dense wood, and about two 
miles from the Court House. The object of the reconnoissance 
having been accompHshed, the Tenth returned to camp, 
arriving about dusk, tired and hungry, expecting at least a 
few hours' rest. In this we were disappointed, as orders were 
already issued for the Second Division, to which the Tenth 
belonged, to make an assault on the enemy's left at four 
o'clock the next morning. To accomplish this we had another 
weary all night's march, and the column arrived at the desig- 
nated point about half-past four Wednesday morning (ISth), 
where another fight was on. 

Our Brigade (the Fourth) composed the second line of 
battle, Wheaton's Brigade the first. The enemy anticipated 
the movement, and as we advanced, opened a tremendous 
artillery fire, doing but sHght damage in comparison to the 
amount of ammunition expended. We formed in the pits 
we had fought so desperately for on the 12th, and advanced, 
forcing the Rebels from their first, second, and third line of 
pits. After carrying the third line of rifle pits, we found 
ourselves in the front line, which position was held for some 
hours. _ Here the enemy had us at a disadvantage. Bevond 
the third line they had strong works in the edge of a strip of 
woods, where they had heavy guns mounted, and with these 
they saluted our approach with spherical case, canister and 
rifle balls, in no stinted measure. If a man exposed himself 
at all, his name was quickly added to the list of casualties. 



May 18, '64 Spottsylvania 271 

They had one brass gun that completely enfiladed the pit, 
and many a gallant fellow lost his life, or was badly wounded 
by it. Capt. John Chauncey, commanding the Seventh 
Maine, was with his regiment on our right, and he coolly 
watched the gun, could see them load it, and would cry out, 
"Look out, boys, here it comes," and a shell or a charge of 
canister would come crashing through the pit. He repeated 
the caution several times, and as a reward for his bravery 
received a wound over his right eye. As the blood covered 
his face, he rose to his full height and shook his fist at the 
enemy, saying, "I have fought you a good many times, and 
I'll fight you again." Then to his men, "Boys, I'll give you 
one more warning," stood and saw the gun loaded, aimed, 
and with the flash, "Here it comes," he turned and left the 
field. The Seventh Maine lost forty-three men in that pit. 

It was on that terrible day that Captain Bigelow came near 
losing his ear. In the heat of the fight, the Captain felt a 
stinging sensation and coming near one of his favorite non- 
commissioned officers, he exclaimed, "Joe, is my head off," 
at the same time turning so as to disclose something hanging 
by a shred of skin. "No," said Hendrick, "Your head is 
not off, but your ear is." "Pull it off," said the Captain, but 
the friend took him to the surgeon where the Captain still 
insisted that the ear should be pulled off. The fierceness of 
the contest prevented a very nice operation there, so the 
surgeon bandaged the head and ear, and sent the officer to 
the rear where he could be better treated. The ear was saved 
and, while a little lower than its fellow on the other side of 
the Captain's head, it is vastly better than none at all. 

After the troops on our right had fallen back, and the 
enemy had succeeded in getting around our right flank, we 
concluded that we had stayed as long as the interests of the 
country demanded, and we were moved to the left under a 
galling fire, and joined General Wheaton, with parts of two 
regiments of his brigade, who had made the movement by 
the flank some time previous. To get to this point we had to 
pass an open space where the enemy's fire had full sweep, and 
where we lost twelve men who were taken prisoners. This 
point was held by us till we received orders to retire, and the 
Tenth was the last to leave the position. In this engagement 
we suffered the loss of the ever brave and gallant Lieut. E. B. 
Bartlett (B), shot through the head and instantly killed. 
Sergeant Paull (I), was among the number who fell that day. 
They were all men of indomitable pluck, and heroes in every 



272 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

sense of the word, ftill of patriotism, and fully competent to 
command. Capt. George W. Bigelow (F), wounded in head, 
and ear shot off; Capt. George Pierce (G), head, slight; 
Lieutenant Cotrell (D), cheek, severe; Lieut. Edwin Whitney, 
acting aid-de-camp, foot; Corp. WilHam S. Jones (I), foot; 
Jacob Haigis (H); and Henry E. Perkins (K), Corp. Robert 
Best, Jr., (I) color guard, Corp. WilHam Markham (H), and 
Edward T. Potter (E) were captured by the enemy. 

After the incidents recited, the Regiment marched to the 
left, crossed Po Run, a small stream which, with similar 
runlets, viz, the Mat, Ta and Ny, makes the beginning of the 
Mattapony River, and forming in line of battle waited for 
the morning. The latter came early, for at 4.00 a. m. on the 
19th, we were marching by the right flank to the place where 
we had reconnoitred on the 17th, again formed battle Hne 
and dug rifle pits opposite the right flank of the enemy. Here 
we received our first mail since leaving camp at Brandy Station. 
The 20th also brought us up and out at 4.00 a. m., standing 
in line of battle for half an hour. Varying our positions 
somewhat during the day, we saw General Meade pass along 
our Hnes where the digging of breastworks took the most of 
time and strength. 

In a paper prepared for the Loyal Legion and read before the 
same, April 3d, 1901, Colonel Parsons treats the Wilderness- 
Spottsylvania engagements at length and from his recollec- 
tions the following extracts are made: 

I was ordered by General Eustis at 4.00 p. m. of the 5th, to 
throw out skirmishers to cover his whole brigade, which was 
formed in two lines, the Tenth Massachusetts and Second 
Rhode Island on the front Hne, Thirty-Seventh and Seventh 
Massachusetts forming the rear. The woods at this point 
were filled with underbrush, so that we moved forward by the 
right of companies to the front for some twenty-five rods, 
when we came into open woods. Skirmishers became engaged, 
line of battle was formed, the roar of musketry was heard on 
the left, Wheaton being first in the fight. It was taken up as 
the different brigades approached and became general along 
the whole line. 

The firing then became terrific. Men who had been in all 
the battles of the war up to that time said they never saw 



May 5-G, '64 Colonel Parsons's Paper 273 

anything like it. It seemed to come from two or three hnes 
of battle, one above the other — a perfect hail of balls. The 
Second Rhode Island formed the extreme right of our line 
engaged, and had to receive, besides the fire from the front, 
an enfilading fire from the enemy, whose line extended a long 
distance beyond theirs, and who could devote their whole 
attention to the right of that regiment. It was unable to 
stand the terrible ordeal to which it was subjected, and gave 
way in some confusion. Then a most destructive fire was 
poured into the right flank of the Tenth. Men dropped like 
the leaves of autumn — still the line wavered not. The ground 
was literally covered with the wounded, the dying and the 
dead. Colonel Edwards of the Thirty-Seventh gallantly 
moved his regiment forward and assisted the Rhode Island 
and the line was soon established. 

Lieutenant Colonel Harlow of the Seventh reported to me 
at this juncture that his regiment was just over the knoll, 
that he had not seen Colonel Johns, the Colonel of his regiment, 
since we entered the woods, nor had he seen General Eustis. 
I said, "We are nearly out of ammunition; bring up your 
regiment and form on my left as there is space between the 
left of my regiment and the right of Bidwell's brigade to, 
form a whole brigade." He soon brought up his regiment, but 
instead of moving to my left, directly in my rear. The Tenth 
Regiment was ordered to lie down; he passed over us and took 
up the fire. 

We retreated just beyond the knoll which he spoke of, 
where we found General Eustis with plenty of ammunition 
with which we supplied ourselves, and under his orders moved 
to the front forming on Harlow's left. There was one constant 
roar of musketry till night closed in, ending the first day of the 
Battle of the Wilderness. The line moved forward a few rods, 
threw out their pickets and rested all night upon their arms, 
giving attention to the wounded. 

The following day. May 6th, we were called up before day- 
Hght. The enemy had retired about half a mile during the 
night. We were placed in the second line of battle and moved 
from point to point as the occasion required. There was a 
continuous roar of musketry all the day, each side in turn 
gaining a slight advantage. Shortly after noon Eustis's 
Brigade retired to the left of the road, taking position behind 
some breastworks that had been thrown up the night before. 
We marched out of the Wilderness, starting at nine-thirty 
in the evening, marching with occasional halts all night, 



274 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

making a journey of five miles, and rested for breakfast near 
the house where Stonewall Jackson died, which was the route 
of the Sixth Corps towards the new field of operation at Spott- 
sylvania Court House. 

We arrived in front of the enemy early in the afternoon. 
Eustis's Brigade was ordered to report to the Fifth Corps and 
was formed on the left of Crawford's Division in two lines of 
battle. It was nearly dusk when the order "Forward" was 
given. The general commanding the brigade having been 
informed that there was still another line in advance of the 
one we were connected with, ordered his front line to take the 
double quick, which we did for nearly a quarter of a mile, 
when a line of skirmishers appeared on our front and we learned 
that there was no other advance line, that the line of battle 
on the right had been driven back. General Eustis ordered 
me to remain at this point while he went back and brought 
up the balance of the brigade. 

We were now on the top of a ridge with the ground sloping 
both ways. A wood road ran through the center of the right 
wing of my regiment. I moved the regiment back some ten 
rods and to the left so that my right rested on said road, and 
ordered Lieutenant Colonel Reed, in command of the Second 
Rhode Island, to throw out skirmishers to cover his left flank. 
I then ordered scouts to the front to find out the position and 
ascertain what was in our front. I gave orders that in no case 
was a gun to be fired. The scouts soon returned and informed 
me that some twenty rods to the front was a cleared field 
occupied by two brigades, one of which was already advanc- 
ing towards the woods. 

Both regiments were lying down waiting the charge. We 
could hear the line moving through the woods; when they 
arrived at the top of the ridge they delivered their fire. From 
the light of the muskets I could see that the line extended 
far to our right. Their shots went over us, hurting no one. 
We opened fire upon them, when their line broke and retreated 
on the run through the woods. I immediately sent the scouts 
out to watch the front. Lieutenant Colonel Reed, command- 
ing the Second Rhode Island, reported to me that his skir- 
mishers had all been captured. I ordered him to send out 
more skirmishers. 

Captain Bishop of my command reported to me that he 
had had one man killed and two wounded by shots coming 
from the rear, and he could not hold his men in line. I ordered 
Lieutenant Gardner of Company K to go back to the rear 



May 12, '64 Colonel Parsons's Paper 275 

and learn what troops were there, to give my comphments 
to the commander and request him to have his men uncap 
their pieces. Gardner not reporting I sent Adjutant Brewster 
on the same mission. Brewster found himself in the Seventy- 
Seventh New York of Bidwell's Brigade and they attempted 
to capture him, stating that they had captured an officer 
whom they considered a Rebel in Union clothes, and had sent 
him with six men to headquarters. Brewster would not be 
captured, and finding an officer whom he knew and who 
recognized him, presented him to Bidwell, and my request 
was complied with. The Confederates made three attempts 
to drive us from our position but we repulsed them and soon 
the sound of axes was heard and the enemy commenced to 
build the fortifications known as "The Bloody Angle," which 
Hancock captured on the morning of the 12th. 

From General Bidwell I learned that we were nearly half 
a mile in front of our hne of battle, and at three o'clock 
in the morning we marched to the rear and came out of the 
woods where the army was encamped. There was an officer 
standing in one of the tents. I reported to him and found it 
to be General Neill, who was in command of the Second 
Division, General Getty having been knocked out in the 
Wilderness. He was very much excited and ordered me to 
go back with my troops where I came from, saying that the 
troops behaved badly and fell back without any reason; that 
he had not had a wink of sleep during the night. I then saw 
General Eustis's flag in the rear of the line of battle and awak- 
ened him and reported to him. He was surprised and stated 
that he supposed both of his regiments had been captured, 
and very gladly gave us position in rear of his line to stack 
muskets and go to sleep. 

May 12th, Hancock with the Second Corps was ordered to 
capture the works since known as "The Bloody Angle." The 
Sixth Corps was ordered the night before in a position to give 
Hancock their assistance. Hancock moved out in the early 
morning, captured the works, took Gen. Edward Johnson 
and some four thousand men as prisoners and marched them 
to the rear. McAlHster's Brigade of Hancock's Corps was 
left to hold the works, which were quickly assailed by Gordon's 
troops and Eustis's Brigade. The First Brigade of the Sixth 
Corps was ordered at once to his assistance that morning. 
The brigade moved out by the right flank, Edwards on the 
right, next to the Second Rhode Island, then the Tenth Massa- 
chusetts. The Seventh Massachusetts was on picket line. 



276 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

We moved out through the woods, filed to the left, passed 
the line of prisoners, and came out into the open field, when 
the order was given to "Face by the rear rank," "By the 
right flank march," which brought the Tenth Regiment on 
the right of the brigade. We moved across in line of battle, 
down through the ravine, which was about ten rods from the 
works, up to the works. The Tenth Regiment, being on the 
extreme right, came up beyond the line of works and engaged 
the enemy in the rifle pits beyond. After delivering our fire, 
there being no time to load, we had a hand to hand contest 
with the enemy, using the bayonet and clubbing with the 
musket. A force of the Rebels scaled the works and poured 
a terrific fire into the right flank of the Regiment and drove 
us back beyond the knoll in rear of the Second Rhode Island. 

We fought the Rebels desperately and with the aid of the 
Second Rhode Island held our ground just over the knoll. 
The works were built of logs some five feet high with a header, 
so that a space was left to run the rifles through. These works 
were heavily manned with some twenty heavy guns. Logs 
on the left were built about twenty feet to the rear for the 
purpose of protecting the gunners. My colors were pushed 
up close to the works and the Regiment formed on the right 
and rear, protecting the flank. The right wing suffered severe- 
ly, and among the killed and mortally wounded were Major 
Parker, Captain Wetherell and Lieutenant Munyan, while 
Captains Gilmore and Knight and Lieutenants Eaton and 
Graves were seriously wounded. 

About ten o'clock it was raining — I had on an old rubber 
coat. A horseman rode up through the ravine; he had on a 
cavalry overcoat, he dismounted and asked me who com- 
manded that regiment. I told him. He said, "This is no 
position for this regiment. Swing this regiment over this 
slope up against the works." I attempted to explain the 
position. He said, "I want no explanation from you, sir, 
I am General Upton; I order it done at once." I had been in 
the service long enough to know that I had a brigade com- 
mander and a division commander and would not take orders 
from any outsider at such a time as this, unless I agreed 
thoroughly with him. 

I refused to obey his order and was threatened with court- 
martial. Then he came back and wanted to know who 
commanded the brigade. Eustis commanded the Brigade, 
but he had gone back for troops and Edwards was in command. 
I never saw General Eustis after that during my term of service. 



May 12, '64 Colonel Parsons's Paper 277 

I told Upton that Edwards was in command and very likely- 
he would find him down on the left of the line of the Thirty- 
Seventh Massachusetts. He was gone about half an hour 
when he came back with Edwards, my personal friend, for- 
merly Adjutant of the Tenth Massachusetts. He was a 
splendid officer. He said, "This is General Upton; he ranks 
me and he orders you to swing up against the works." I said 
to him, "Colonel Edwards, you are in command of the Brigade. 
My advice is that you give General Upton the same answer 
that I did." While we were conversing a column of troops 
came up the ravine and General Upton said, "I will take these 
new troops and will show you how soon these works can be 
taken and held." 

The third regiinent in column and the third in line was the 
Eleventh Massachusetts. He formed them on the right of 
my regiment in the ravine in column of regiments. He ordered 
the first regiment to charge up over the slope up against the 
works. They received a termendous fire as they came up out 
of the ravine on the front and flank. No troops could stand 
such a fire and they were driven back in confusion, leaving the 
ground strewn with their dead and wounded. He then 
ordered the Second Regiment with the same result. He then 
came to Edwards and said, "Troops cannot live over that 
slope; I have ordered the other regiment to report to you 
and I advise that the line be extended from your right around 
the knoll." 

That was the line that was held during the whole fight. 
There was one constant roll of musketry. My colors never 
left the position they were in. When the guns got so foul 
that they could not be used the men would drop out of the 
ranks and have them cleaned and then retake their places. 
Beyond those logs that were built to the rear was where the 
Rebels were close to us. Men would load their pieces, raise 
the butt with the left hand and fire down into the trenches. 
Many examples of bravery were seen there during the day. 
Men would jump to the top of the works, fire, change muskets, 
fire, and soon be knocked over and others would take their 
places. I saw many do it during that fight. It was a hard 
day's fight and was kept up until eleven o'clock at night, when 
the firing ceased and the enemy left their works. The last 
regiment that came up was a New Jersey regiment — I think it 
was the Tenth. I was directed by Colonel Edwards to take 
that regiment up on my right and to lead it up against 
the works where Upton had pushed his men in the morning. 



278 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

This I did. It was a terrible march from the ravine across 
the slope of that field where the dead and wounded were lying. 
I came back to my regiment, which was formed obliquely 
to the rear, and told them they might rest and they laid down 
and went to sleep. 

Time will not permit a detailed account of the scenes of 
the next week. There were many thrilling experiences, which 
never will be forgotten by those who shared them. The fact 
that in eight days the Army of the Potomac lost 30,000 men, 
demonstrates beyond question the most terrific fighting that 
ever occurred in the world within a similar time. 

Of all the battles of the war, the "salient" at Spottsylvania 
stands out the most desperate and bloody. The next morning 
I went over the ground, and had an opportunity of witnessing 
the effects of the terrible struggle which had occurred between 
the two armies, to gain possession of that vital point in the line. 

There were a few gray uniforms on our side of the works. 
My Major's horse fell within two rods, just over the slope, 
where the logs were built to the rear to protect the flank of the 
gunners, and very near where the tree was cut off by bullets. 
The horse , saddle and bridle were perfect mince meat , as were the 
men who lay in that line of fire through the night. Over the 
works the dead and wounded were lying some four, five and 
six deep, and the groans and pra3'ers of the dying were some- 
thing awful to hear. 

When General Gordon of the Rebel army spoke here in 
Cambridge, he told how they marched the men into the works 
and how they stood right on that mound of human flesh. I 
could understand him. During the fight a flag of truce was 
put up within a few feet of my colors. We stopped firing. 
The Confederates came, a hundred of them, without any 
equipments or guns. An officer of McAlHster's Brigade said 
to me, "Why don't you fire?" I said I would not fire as long 
as they were coming over, as it looked to me as if they were 
going to surrender. He then asked me to step up and look 
under the head log. I there saw a handsome line advancing, 
and it had got nearly up to the caissons in the rear of the guns. 
Here were found four ranks of men on the outside of that 
work, and one rank after another stood up and fired their guns, 
and that Hne went to pieces quicker than I can tell the story. 
Many hid behind the trees in the woods and were picked 
off. That is as near as the enemy got to the works where 
the guns were at that angle of the saHent — our right — their 
left. Flags of truce were sent up a number of times. The 



May 18, '64 Colonel Parsons's Paper 279 

man who held that flag, and the one or two men who were on 
the works coming over at the same time were pierced with 
scores of bullets. General Russell, who commanded a division 
of the Sixth Corps came up, and I went over the ground with 
him. He was astonished to think that this brigade, the one 
which went in in the morning, was in the fight during that 
continuous twenty-two hours. He sent up troops and we were 
relieved and marched to the rear where we lay nearly a whole 
day. 

On the ISth the Regiment suffered severe losses in the left 
flank movement of General Grant, and in the report of that 
engagement I included among the kihed Corporal Harger, 
who was a true soldier in every respect, and a man of deep 
rehgious convictions. Two years after the war my doorbell 
rang in Northampton. I answered the bell, and was surprised 
to see Corporal Harger, whom I had supposed killed. He came 
irl and stayed with me a day or two, and his story from that 
time until'he got into the Union lines would fill a book. He 
lay there, he savs, that afternoon and nearly all the next day, 
till towards night he saw a Rebel with half a dozen canteens 
on the end of a musket thrown over his shoulder. He must 
have some water. He managed to raise himself and attract 
the Rebel's attention who came over to where he lay. He 
said "Oh! for God's sake give me a little water." "Give you 
water, you damned Yankee — you killed my brother here 
yesterday." He threw down the canteens, seized his musket, 
the right hand at the small and the left at the tail bend, and 
made a lunge at the Corporal as though he would run his 
bayonet through him. He said, "I'm not going to kill you 
yet; I'm going to torture you." Three separate times he 
went through this motion; the last time when the Corporal 
opened his eyes, the countenance of the Rebel had completely 
changed; he threw down the musket and said, "For God's 
sake, what am I thinking of? I may be where you are to- 
morrow." He took the canteen, bathed the Corporal's brow, 
gave him a drink, and then got a little pine bush which he 
inserted in the ground to keep the sun off and said, " I will 
send an ambulance for you when I get into camp." The 
Corporal was soon taken to a camp of wounded Rebels, where 
lie was the only Union soldier present. 

The official reports of the battles in the Wilderness and 
-thence onward, so far as our Regiment are concerned, are 
sadly lacking. They are mere generaHzations, scarcely touch- 



280 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

ing a regiment, not to mention an individual. That of Gen. 
Geo. W. Getty, commanding the Second Division, with which 
our Brigade was joined at the beginning of the struggle, 
(R. R. Series I, Vol. XXXVI, Part I, pp. 672,673) is clear and 
direct but adds nothing to the story already told. Returning 
to the annals of the Regiment which were dropped for Colonel 
Parsons's sketch, we find the men at noon of the 21st with- 
drawing skirmishers, abandoning the front line and reforming 
in the rear line of pits, our places being taken by other troops. 
At 6.00 p. m. the enemy charged and forced back the skir- 
mishers, but our artillery opened and a speedy end was made 
of the hostile move. At night we moved off on the Bowling 
Green road. The next day (22d) we passed the house in which 
Stonewall Jackson was said to have died, and marched a few 
miles beyond Guinea's Station; at night with battle line formed 
we halted under arms. 

Though we packed early on the 23d, we did not advance 
until about 8.00 a. m., being the very foremost guard. After 
a march of two or three miles we reached the North Anna 
River and heard brisk firing on the other side. Here our 
supply trains reached us and we drew five days' rations. The 
24th found us up before daylight; we crossed the river and 
marched to Little River where we formed in line of battle in 
the rear of the Fifth Corps and commenced fortifying. There 
was firing on our left and in front skirmishing was evident. 
At 5.00 p. m. advancing to a piece of woods we bivouacked 
for the night. On the 25th we were off at 8.00 a. m. to the left, 
and crossed the Virginia Central Railroad at Chesterfield 
Station. Thence advancing about three miles, we formed in 
battle line, sensible of considerable skirmishing in our imme- 
diate front. Here we saw the skillful manner in which railroad 
tracks were torn up and the rails, heated and bent, rendered 
wholly unfit for future use. We dug rifle pits near New Found 
River, in plain sight of the enemy's pickets on the other side 
of the stream. During the 26th, we continued our digging 
but after dark we packed up and at 10.00 p. m. marched back 
to the North Anna, crossed the same and pushed along for 



May 27-29, '64 Towards Cold ILvrbor 281 

twenty miles to within about three miles of the Pamunkey 
River. Owing to recent rains and the clayish nature of the 
soil the marching was very difficult. 

Daylight of the 27th brought us to a halt and the distribution 
of one day's rations and then on we went again. The hot sun, 
at last struggling forth from the clouds, shone down upon us 
through the humid air until endurance seemed to be taxed 
almost to its limit. Halting at nine o'clock in the evening, 
the cavalry told us we were not yet at the Pamunkey. Vir- 
ginian distances always were disappointing! Had these 
soldiers been farm boys at home, they would not have been 
called earlier than the bugle blast summoned them each 
morning on this flank movement. There was some comfort 
in the thought that the Johnnies had to get up just as early. 
Daybreak on the 28th beheld the lines formed, the march 
resumed and, after a detour of several miles, the Pamunkey 
was crossed at 9.00 a. m. We rested an hour and then pro- 
ceeded a mile and a half to the vicinity of Hanover Town 
where a good position was found in a range of hills; battle 
line was formed and fortifying began. As soldiers, many of 
those men were having their first experience with spade and 
shovel, at times being glad to use even spoons and tin plates 
for purposes of safety. Firing in the front proclaimed our 
friends, the enemy, near, and for that matter, when had 
they failed to stick even closer than a brother? — though, possi- 
bly for other than fraternal reasons. Divided into reliefs, we 
dug the night away. Some portions of the Corps were unsup- 
plied with rations, thus adding to their hardships. 

May 29th had its regular sunrise start after the simplest 
kind of a breakfast, since rations were becoming scarce. 
Those who had coffee refreshed themselves thus, and those 
who had hard-tack ate it, but many could only pull their belts 
up a notch and grumble over the carelessness of quartermasters 
and the great length of the day. In this connection, it was 
largely the running of day into the night that was responsible 
for the shortage, since, according to the quartermaster's 
reckoning, there were still two days' rations in the haversacks, 



•282 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

but men could not dig and throw up earth all night on empty 
stomachs, not if there was a mouthful of food to be had any- 
where. In the afternoon, we moved out to support the First 
Division which had started early to find the Rebels, or failing 
them, to tap the Virginia Central Railroad. The wearers of 
the red cross (the badge of the First Division) were found 
after dark near Hanover Court House, very near the birth- 
place of Henry Clay. The men had spent the most of the 
afternoon in destroying the railroad, i. e., tearing up the track 
and on great cob piles made of the ties and fired, heated the 
rails to redness and then made of each one a letter U, by 
bending it around a near-by tree. 

Monday, the 30th of May, was a long and busy day, for the 
morning summons came before daylight, but breakfast 
preparation was short since the most of us had none to prepare. 
From a neighboring barn, a detail brought some corn on the 
cob, and very limited must be the experience of the soldier 
in that campaign who could not tell stories of robbing cavalry 
and artillery horses for a taste of hard corn on the ear. How- 
ever, roasted over a fire of coals, it was a deal better than 
nothing. After sunrise we marched to Peake's Station where 
Rebel cavalry was found, but their presence did not prevent 
careful foraging, resulting in the capture and slaughter of 
sundry pigs and poultry. The object of the trip being the 
destruction of several small buildings, this was accomplished 
by burning; we also secured a day's rations and the Tenth 
had to take the front as skirmishers. We also helped capture 
2,000 bushels of corn, a rare find for the horses whose rations, 
always scarce, some of us had been sharing. Our next move 
was backwards towards Phelp's Mills, the Tenth being rear 
guard, that condition being reached through an "about 
face." Captain Bishop and his Company A were in the rear 
of the Regiment, and they had a lively time with the enemy's 
cavalry all the way to the Mills on Crump's Creek, where we 
found our Brigade, three other regiments and a battery. 
Again we were treated to rations, a supply for three days, 
and equally acceptable was the arrival of a mail with letters 



June 1, '64 Cold Harbor 285- 

and papers from home. Though the hour was late, and we 
would not rest till after midnight, each man found the con- 
tents of his precious letters ere he closed his eyes in sleep. The 
last day of that long and eventful May was passed in a greater- 
degree of quiet than had been our lot since crossing the 
Rapidan, though firing was heard on our left and, at dusk, 
we were ordered to pack up and to be ready to march. How- 
ever, we finished the day and the month in that bivouac. 

COLD HARBOR 

"I have always regretted that the last assault at Cold 
Harbor was ever made." These are the words of General 
Grant in his reflections upon the sanguinary struggle which 
added 13,000 men to the fearful aggregate of the 60,000 loss 
from the Wilderness to Petersburg. What must have been 
the confidence of the North in this later Charles Martel, when 
it continued to add its thousands to his depleted ranks and, 
no matter what the issue of the day, nor how many "lay 
ghastly pale beneath the setting sun," his host was ever 
increasing, as though some magician's wand were evoking a 
never ending stream of soldiery from the home land or had 
the power to revive the fallen. The name of the battle, drawn 
from that of the locality, has long puzzled those who ramble 
among words — Lossing even calling it "Cool Arbor" while 
others use "Coal" Harbor. Really the combination is a 
common one along certain wa^^s in England, where no less 
than seventy such may be found, there the interpretation being 
"shelter without fire." The fact that the settlers here were 
entirely English will readily account for the name but, so far- 
as its application to the Union soldier was concerned, he 
there had fire in plenty but no shelter at all. 

Determined to turn the Confederate right and thus inter- 
pose himself between Lee and Richmond, Grant deemed it 
necessary to cross the Chickahominy ; and once more the 
Union Army found itself just where it was in 1862 and the 
impending battle covered portions of the great engagement 
of Gaines's Mill in the list of Seven Days' Fighting. Many of 



284 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

the army recognized former scenes and, no doubt, recalled 
the repetitions for which history is noted. That the battle 
finally resolved itself into a siege and that, having raised the 
same, Grant carried his forces much further to the southward 
and, crossing the James, pressed the Capital from the South, 
is well known to every participant in the war, and to every 
one who has ever so little followed that bloody trail from the 
Rapidan to the James. Sheridan had engaged the cavalrv 
of the enemy and his advanced guard earlier in the day, June 
1st, thus developing his presence, and it was hoped that the 
Union troops might reach the position early enough to secure 
the approaches to the Chickahominy River, so essential to 
the Commander's plans. The Sixth Corps was in advance 
and on its way encountered reinforcements from the Armv 
of the James, Butler's command, consisting of the 18th Corps 
and a part of the Tenth under the lead of Gen. W. F. Smith 
who, with Gen. W. T. H. Brooks, were greeted as old acquaint- 
ances of the Peninsular Campaign. There was only a short 
halt on reaching the scene of the cavalry encounter. The 
right was held by Smith and his forces while Wright and the 
Sixth Corps were placed upon the left. In that Union left, 
Ricketts and the Third Division were on the right, Russell 
and his First Division were in the center, Neill and the Second 
were at the left. In front of our position was an open space 
beyond which were woods in which the Confederates under 
Longstreet were intrenched. 

The Tenth Regiment made its accustomed early start on 
the 1st of June and, by dint of a forced march, reached Cold 
Harbor at three in the afternoon. After a rest, lines were 
formed, the Tenth and the 37th in the first, and the Seventh 
and Second Rhode Island in the second; our Brigade expect- 
ing to support that of the Vermonters in the assault. There 
was a furious artillery duel for some time which, as was often 
the case, was more noisy than harmful, though O. E. Cutting 
of Company A was seriously, and three others were slightly 
injured. As the Rebels now appeared in force on the left 
flank, our Brigade was sent to oppose, going at a double quick 



June 1-2, '64 Cold Harbor 285 

and taking a position to head off the attack. We were so 
quick in this movement, the enemy was completely checked, 
we suffering but very Httle loss. Thereupon, we laid down our 
guns and took up the shovel, in our familiar labor of making 
breastworks. Meanwhile the fight had raged fiercely on the 
right of our Corps, the Third Division and Smith's array 
pressing their way over the first line of hostile trenches, 
capturing several hundred prisoners.* 

In the forenoon of the 2d, our portion of the left was 
relieved by the Second Corps and our Division, passing over 
to the right of the Third Division, relieved a part of the ISth 
Corps. Here, too, we threw up works and prepared to remain 
through the night. Sharpshooters were putting in their 
deadly work and it was impossible to get a canteen of water 
without crawling on hands and knees, Indian like, thus escap- 
ing the eyes of the tree-perched adversary. We expected to 
charge the enemy in our immediate front, but the extreme 
weariness of the Sixth Corps and Smith's forces, through the 
fighting and fortifying of the day before, together with a 
heavy fall of rain, just before the hour set for the advance, 
caused a postponement of the attack. Julius A. Cushman, 
Company A, was wounded in the arm that day. 

Orders were given for a simultaneous attack along the entire 
line at 4.30 in the morning of the 3d. This line extended from 
Cold Harbor to the Tolopotamy Creek, a distance of several 



*June 1st we made a forced march to Cold Harbor, some fifteen miles. 
It was excessively hot, the roads very dry and dusty and it was a 
wearisome march. Before we got near the battle field we could hear 
a tremendous roar of artillery and we knew that something had got 
to happen. The \'ermonters made the charge (I think that was the 
best brigade in the Army of the Potomac) and we were to be their 
support. My regiment began to cheer. What could they be cheering 
about? I looked around and there stood General Devens and his 
staff. Each regiment in the brigade cheered him as he passed, while 
the cannon thundered at the front. At the last reunion of the brigade 
Devens spoke of this incident and said it made him glad to think that 
the boys remembered him, but also sad as he saw the thin ranks of 
his old brigade marching to the front with the same old swinging step 
to take position. Those of you who were at Cold Harbor will agree 
with me that it was the worst position that the regiment was ever in. 
— From Colonel Parsons's Loyal Legion Address. 



286 The Tenth MASSACHUSETrs Ixfaxtry 

miles. The Army Corps in order from left to right were. 
Second, Sixth, Eighteenth, Fifth and Ninth, the line being 
nearly parallel to the Chickahominy and about a mile and a 
half north of it. The preceding day had not been idly spent 
by the foe but exacting labor had been done in strengthening 
his works till, with the low and swampy ground intervening, 
they had become practically impregnable. The assault along 
the entire front took place not later than 4.45 a. m., and 
within half an hour thousands lay dead or grievously wounded 
in front of the Rebel works. The loss of the enemy was com- 
paratively light. It was fully demonstrated that the works 
could not be taken. Swinton sa^'s of that incident: 

It took hardly more than ten minutes of the figment men 
call time to decide the battle. There was along the whole line 
a rush — the spectacle of impregnable works — a bloody loss — 
then a sullen falling back, and the action was decided. * 
* * The action, as I have said, was decided in an 
incredibly brief time in the morning's assault. But rapidly 
as the result was reached it was decisive ; for the consciousness 
of every man pronounced further assault hopeless. The troops 
went forward as far as the "example of their officers could 
carry them," (Hancock) nor was it possible to urge them 
beyond; for there they knew lay only death, without even 
the chance for victory. The completeness with which this 
judgment had been reached by the whole army was strik- 
ingly illustrated by an incident which occurred in the forenoon. 
Some hours after the failure of the first assault. General 
Meade sent instructions to each Corps commander to renew 
the attack without reference to the troops on his right or left. 
The orders were issued through these officers to the subordi- 
nate commanders, and from them descended through the 
whole command; but no man stirred, and the immobile hnes 
pronounced a verdict, silent yet emphatic, against further 
slaughter. 

The Tenth was in the second line and its loss was principally 
from the sharpshooters, the casualties being as follows: 

Company G — Killed, John H. Baltz. Wounded, Chauncey 
M. Gowdy, thigh, severe. 

Company B — Wounded, Sergt. Wm. H. Cousens, finger. 



June 3-7, "64 Cold Harbor 287 

Company E — Wounded, Corp. Thos. Dobyns, color guard, 
arm, severe. 

Company I— Sergt. Napoleon Trudeau, hit on back of head 
by a solid twelve lb. shot which rolled over the rifle pits; 
though knocked senseless his cranium withstood the blow 
and the wound was not dangerous. 

Though the army remained here until the 11th and 12th 
of the month, strongly intrenching itself, and though there 
were charges and countercharges, flags of truce for buria 
of the dead, and many cases of death and wounds by sharp- 
shooting, the battle was over on the 3d. So far as our Regi- 
ment was concerned, we were constantly exposed and grew 
used to it. On the 4th, Anthony Liddy, Company H, was 
killed and J. W. Pike, Company B, severely wounded in the 
thigh. Towards night, the enemy assailed our right but were 
speedily repulsed with loss. At nightfall, the Tenth relieved 
the 37th on picket, a duty here altogether shorn of the pleas- 
ures we used to have around Brandy Station. June 5th was 
given entirely to the rifle pits where the pickets lay. So 
closely did we keep our places we had no time to say "good- 
bye" to the boys of the Second Rhode Island who, that day, 
through expiration of service, were withdrawn from the line 
and departed for home. There seemed to be a gradual 
movement of the army towards the left. 

On the 6th a flag of truce was up, that the dead, lying be- 
tween the lines for four days, might be buried, and the men of 
both sides exchanged kindly greetings with each other. 
There was no apparent hardness, for we could have no personal 
difference. James Cormick of Company A was killed that da3^ 
At night the Johnnies stormed that part of the line held by 
Burnside but without success. The enemy occupied works 
in an open field; we were in pits in the woods. That was 
the 7th of June, and since the first day we had been 
constantly under fire, except a few hours the preceding day 
when we moved back out of range and washed up. Every 
night our works were extended and advanced; our pits faced 
all ways, save to the rear, and traverses from every pit were 



288 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

to protect us from cross fires. The Confederates kept up a 
constant fusilade of musketry and cannonading. As the 
works were not any too high, men in coming and going for 
any purpose had to practice a posture illustrative of stooping 
to conquer. Charles L. Hartwell of Company I, wounded in 
the Wilderness, had come back to duty, but received another 
slight wound in the shoulder that day. On the 8th First 
Sergt. Wm. H. Loomis, Company K, was slightly wounded in 
the wrist. 

Thus the story proceeds until the 1 1th when the army began 
its final flank movement, again tending towards the left. The 
Tenth and other regiments were on picket the 12th, while their 
friends in blue were filing out. During the night many 
missiles were sent into our camps by the enemy, but it was a 
harmless diversion for them, since, for the most part, the same 
were empty, the former occupants having started on their 
way to the James River. The 13th found our Regiment well 
under way and we crossed the Chickahominy at Jones's Bridge, 
that being strictly the last appearance of the Tenth on those 
scenes. The whole army was on its way towards Turkey 
Bend on the James. We joined our Brigade on the 14th at 
Charles City Court House, a name that smacked strongly of 
days more than two years before. We were near the old home 
of John Tyler, the first accidental President of the United 
States. Mention has already been made of the way the his- 
toric homes of former chief executives from the Old Dominion 
had fared in the strife. Only Monroe's apparently escaped; 
Montpelier, the home of Madison, was in the very midst of 
all the operations of the Army of the Potomac, though there 
is no record that it was ever in the least molested, for those 
northern men had the utmost respect for the old-time Presi- 
dents; but for John Tyler, who had figured in the so-called 
Peace Convention, they had none at all. His once delightful 
home, through the visits of the soldiers, had become a scene 
of desolation; books and papers strewed the floors, and many 
a bit of crockery from his china shelves found its way north- 
ward as a souvenir of that day's tarrying near the home of a 
former dweller in the White House. 



June 16, '64 Crossing the James 289 

There was roll call at five o'clock in the morning of the 15th 
and a short march towards the right, halting in a corn field; 
two other short changes and we bivouacked in a field of clover. 
The surroundings were very attractive and we could not help 
admiring the taste of the Cavaliers who chose these shores for 
homes, so different from the bleak and storm-beaten coast 
where the Pilgrim planted his home. Fields of standing grain, 
almost ripe for the harvest, greeted the eye, and meadows as 
green as heart could wish. The very houses indicated the 
ease and comfort in which the planters had lived, while the 
array of squaHd huts, clustered near, told of the curse of 
slavery on account of which these thousands of men were so 
many miles from their own abodes. That day departed the 
last, except ourselves, of the original brigade, formed so long 
ago in the defenses, since the Seventh Massachusetts there 
drew out of line and started for the country that somehow 
seemed dearer than anything thereabouts, no matter how 
much Heaven might have smiled upon it. 

The 16th marked another step southward, since we crossed 
the James River at Wilcox's Landing, on one of the longest 
pontoon bridges ever laid. Troops had been crossing by 
means of a ferry but it was slow work compared with the steady 
stream of humanity that now advanced into the new theatre 
of war. The march across the Peninsula of fifty-five miles 
had been accomplished with ease and now we were using a 
bridge of boats really a triumph of engineering, over 2,000 
feet in length, the boats in the channel being anchored in 
thirteen fathoms of water. Begun in the forenoon of the 14th 
it was finished by midnight. How neat and clean the marines 
and sailors looked as they sat in the pontoons, keeping careful 
watch over their charges and their good nature was greatly 
to their credit, as they laughed at the constant chaffing 
received from the passing battle and travel stained soldiers. 
We halted long enough after crossing to draw a day's rations 
and then marched on until midnight. The First and Third 
Divisions of the Sixth Corps had taken transports, ostensibly 
for City Point, but they landed at Bermuda Hundred to assist 
General Butler in some move that he was making. 



890 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

During that 16th day of June and the 17th, Gen. W. F. 
Smith with assistance from the Second Corps was beginning 
the attack on Petersburg, which was to settle into a siege to 
last for ten long months of whose early moments only, the 
Regiment had a taste. Owing to misunderstanding of orders, 
the advance of the 18th Corps was not as rapid as expected 
and the topography of the region was not according to the 
maps furnished General Hancock, hence the delay and the 
siege; still it mattered very little where the battles were 
fought, just about so much blood had to be shed, the Con- 
federacy had to be worn to shreds before the end could come, 
and right there, about the devoted city of Petersburg, the 
struggle was to proceed. Twenty-five miles of marching was 
the record for that day. We were less than a league from the 
city itself, and thought we had earned a rest; but those in 
authority differed for we were ordered out at 10.00 p. m. to 
support the picket line, Col. D. J. Nevin (62d New York) 
thinking he could not hold his position. 

The 18th of June found the Regiment near the scenes of 
war, though during the night the foe had withdrawn from 
the nearest works which we proceeded to occupy, with more 
or less skirmishing until 2.00 p. m., when lines were formed 
with Wheaton's (First) Brigade in the first, and the Fourth 
Brigade in the second line, having the 18th Corps on our right 
and the Second on our left. Advancing, we carried a line 
of works, recently thrown up by the Rebels, thus gaining about 
half a mile in our front. The first line of battle suffered most, 
as might be expected, though there was a record of seven 
wounded in our Regiment. It was our last day of facing the 
Confederates, for at its close we were relieved from duty on 
the firing line and, withdrawing to the rear, encamped near 
Corps headquarters. Of himself. Colonel Parsons wrote that 
he had passed through the campaign until this advance on 
Petersburg, without the touch of a Rebel missile, but here he 
was hit in the chest, though a steel match safe saved his life, 
vhile a dozen bullets went through his clothing and hat. 

While relieved from further service and awaiting orders to 



June 20, '64 Petersburg 291 

move to City Point, our thoughts fixed on home rather than 
conflict, it was decreed that the Tenth should pay yet one 
more tribute to the spirit of war. During the morning, while 
sitting and waiting. Sergeant Major Polley amused himself 
by cutting his name with the additional words, "killed June 
— , 1864," upon a piece of board, torn from the top of a cracker 
box. Having re-enlisted, and even then a commission being 
on its way to him, he was not journeying to Massachusetts 
with his comrades, but was having a "good-bye" time with 
many of the men. Unexpectedly, a battery across the Appo- 
mattox opened fire and, we proving to be in range, a shell 
struck Polley full in the abdomen. A friend rushed at once 
to his side, but he was beyond help, though he was carried 
upon a stretcher over the hill where he soon died. To mark 
his grave, this same comrade made search for the board which 
the young officer had carved in the morning, but was told by 
the Captain of Company H that Polley had himself cut it up 
and with it cooked his coffee. Wm. Winter of Company F, 
a man clever with his knife, carved the inscription for the 
headboard and that, at City Point, marked the resting place 
of the Regiment's last man killed. Ever a favorite, the death 
of the gallant soldier cast a deep shadow over the joyous hours 
of starting for home. June 21st, the third anniversary of the 
muster-in of the Tenth, found the men in City Point where, 
after burying the body of Sergeant Major Polley, they took 
the mail boat for Washington. Their re-enhsted comrades 
had already been transferred to the ranks of the 37th Massa- 
chusetts, where they maintained the high standard of their 
former organization, participated in all the combats of the 
Sixth Corps through the Valley, the siege of Petersburg, the 
forcing of the Hnes, the pursuit, the final battle of Sailor's 
Creek and the supreme triumph at Appomattox. 

Coming and going has been the lot of humanity from the 
beginning; the boy essays his first absence and, when he 
homeward turns his face, how his heart glows at the thought 
of the glad greeting that awaits him at the fireside. But when, 
a little older grown, he dons the garb of a soldier, endures all 



892 The Tenth Massachusetts Ixfantky 

the privations of three long years of active campaigning, such 
as marching, camping, fighting; ever obeying orders and 
following the flag; when at last there comes to him the 
welcome plaudit, "Well done, good and faithful servant" and, 
with the proud consciousness of duty completely done, he 
begins the journey homeward, there comes into his soul a 
feeling of happiness such as no other being in this whole 
wide world possesses. For all such there is promised: 

"Home! Home! a happy welcome — welcome home for thee! 

And kisses of love for thee — 
And a mother's happy, happy tears, and a virgin's bridal wreath 
of flowers — 

For thee."* 

However rapidlv the trainsbore the returning soldiers, they 
did not move fast enough. After many days, these builders 
of Fort Stevens and long sojourners in the District of Columbia 
again trod the streets of the Nation's Capital, arriving on the 
22d. Soon afterwards they moved out by way of Baltimore 
to Philadelphia, where Cooper-Shop hospitality wrote the 
"City of Brotherly Love" deep in each loyal heart, and then 
the cars conveyed them to New York, proud metropolis of 
this Western World, to linger there a few hours until, late in 
the afternoon of Friday, the 24th, they embarked on the 
Hartford steamer for a ride up the Sound and the Connecticut 
River towards the place they longed most to see, viz, Spring- 
field. They were sleeping when they entered the river, Indian 
named, the Connecticut, and they heard not the several 
Haddams as the boat made her accustomed stops, nor yet 
Middletown, hill enshrined, but there was no delay in their 
disembarking at seven o'clock in the morning of Saturday, 
the 25th, when the steamer reached the wharf in the Capital 
city, nor was there loss of time as they, after a hasty breakfast, 
filled the waiting extra train and sped away to the place whence 
they had departed three weary years before. 



*Forceythe Wilson in "Boy Britton." 



June 25, '64 Springfield 293 



HOME 

For many a day people ceased not to tell of the reception 
accorded the Tenth Regiment when its sadly diminished 
ranks paraded the street, through which, three years before, 
they had marched a thousand strong. Not even one of the 
many Fourths of July so briUiantly celebrated began to equal 
the brilHancy of that reception. As early as Thursday pre- 
parations had begun, all through Friday they continued till 
then, when the Regiment was there, the streets were a blaze 
of glory. The flag, the glorious ensign behind and under 
which these men had fought, was everywhere and in a thous- 
and ways these people were anxious to tell the returning 
brave how glad they were for the privilege. While some 
buildings excelled others, all contributed something to the 
magnificent whole. In front of L. J. Powers's were two hand- 
some festoons inclosing the words, "The gallant Tenth," and 
"Honor to the Brave;" over Main street, near the corner of 
Lyman, an arch bearing on each side the words in evergreen, 
"Welcome Home" had also pendent from the center a wreath 
inclosing a shield and on its top a golden eagle ; again appeared 
the words "Hail the Tenth" and "Welcome Home" in the 
windows of Dearden's crockery store in Fort block; there 
were many others, all expressive of the admiration and love 
everyone had for the loyal men who had now come back to 
their homes. 

At 9.30 a. m., five guns from Union Battery had announced 
the departure of the special train from Hartford. Its arrival 
in Springfield was proclaimed by the ringing of church bells, 
the blowing of steam whistles and a salute from the battery 
while the multitude cheered itself hoarse. A procession that 
had formed on Court street had marched down to the station 
with bands of music, and countermarching, halted in front of 
the Massasoit block. The veterans, leaving the train on the 
west side or end of the station, awaited the arrival of the regular 
train which had some of the "boys" who had been left in 
Hartford. Then all together the line proceeded along Main 



294 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

street with the escort on each side, everyone trying to rival 
his fellow in the amount of cheering he could do. W. S. 
Shurtleff, late Colonel of the 46th, was Chief Marshal, having 
an efficient staff of aides, and under his direction was every 
sort of society and organization that the city possessed. 
Representatives were also there from Holyoke, Northampton 
and other towns interested in the Regiment, but perhaps no 
one gave the veterans themselves more pleasure than the 
hundred former members of the Regiment under the command 
of Captain Lombard. 

All this array and display were not for a large number of 
veterans, for there were only two hundred and twenty men 
in the ranks and marching, with a few, unable to walk, borne in 
carriages. While the multitude thus exulted there were others 
who looked on and doubtless cheered with the throng but 
whose hearts were heavy for the dear ones who, having fought 
their last battle, could never be awakened to glory again. 
Their bodies rested in the soil they died to save from slavery's 
stain, but their souls, those loving friends that day beHeved, 
were ever maching on. The Hne passed to Union street and 
then, countermarching, returned to Court Square and the 
veterans stacked arms in front of the Court House, near a 
stand erected for the occasion. All available space was speedily 
occupied by the populace whom the Chief Marshal called to 
order, introducing the Rev. H. M. Parsons who offered prayer. 
The Armory cornet band played the air of "America" twice 
and then Mayor Henry Alexander welcomed the Regiment 
home in eloquent words, briefly rehearsing the scenes through 
which the men had passed, dwelhng on the debt of gratitude 
due them and closing with these words: 

You are soon to return once more to the peaceful callings 
of civil hfe. Whatever may be your fortune there, you will 
remember, and we shall remember, that for all our prosperitv 
and happiness, for our institutions of religion and learning, 
of science and art, of liberty and law, for the right to be, and 
to be American freemen, we are indebted to the brave hearts 
and strong arms of you, and such as you. You have strength- 
ened the arch stone, you have removed the quicksands and 



June 24, '64 Springfield 295 

laid deeper the foundations of the RepubHc. We welcome you 
back, then, soldiers and citizens, to a citizenship which your 
valor has made honorable, to the peace and quiet of civil life, 
and, above all, we give you a most hearty welcome to our 
hearts and our homes. 

To these welcoming words from the Mayor of Springfield 
Lieut. Col. J. B. Parsons responded as follows: 

Mr. Mayor, and Citizens of Springfield and Western 
Massachusetts: — Whoever you are, and from wherever you 
have come today, to meet and welcome us, I have the honor, 
as Commander of the gallant Tenth Regiment — for I see you 
call it gallant, and I beUeve it has earned the name — to return 
to you our most sincere and heartfelt thanks for this reception. 
It cheers us to meet with such a greeting, and while this is a 
gala day for Springfield, it is no less a gala day in the history 
of our Regiment. As we marched through your streets today, 
and saw everywhere the evidences of thrift, we could but 
compare this city with the desolated southern cities through 
which we have passed. We can appreciate ,the difl'erence 
between northern and southern cities. 

But, Mr. Mayor, as we remember the day, three years ago, 
when we stood in Hampden Park, about to leave for the war, 
when we recall the numbers you have sent to us, and when we 
look at the shattered remnant we bring back to you — scarcely 
more than two full companies — we are mourners. We mourn 
the loss of such men as Miller, Leland, Smart, Day, Parker, 
Wetherell, Ashley. Bartlett, Midgley, Munyan, and many 
others equally brave, who fell fighting side by side with them. 
The sacrifice is indeed great, but we think our country worthy 
of it. I say, then, that I accept, in behalf of the war-worn 
veterans of the Tenth Regiment, the honors you have shown 
us, and return to you our heartfelt thanks for such a noble 
reception. 

Then came three great cheers for the Regiment with "Home 
Again" played by the band and then all proceeded to the City 
Hall where a great banquet had been spread for the soldiers 
and their friends. Besides the feast itself, there were other 
attractions, as upon the platform there was a double chorus 
consisting, on the one hand, of thirty-four girls from the high 
and grammar schools, all dressed in white, having red and 
blue streamers and all waving flags; on the other, of repre- 



296 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

sentatives of both sexes from all the choirs of the city, all under 
the direction of George S. Cheney. Never did the words of 
"When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again" seem more 
appropriate nor were they ever more enthusiastically received. 
After grace by Chaplain Perkins, Colonel Parsons said, "Boys, 
don't be afraid, this is not hard-tack. Charge!" Never had 
such a spread been made for soldiers in that hall before, and 
the manner of its disappearance before the hunrgy volunteers 
was proof enough of their appreciation. Enjoyment and 
digestion were furthered by the efforts of the united choruses 
who sang "Rally Round the Flag, Boys," "Star Spangled 
Banner," "Glory Hallelujah" and other patriotic airs to 
many of which the veterans contributed volume in the 
respective refrains. 

Last of all came a furlough until the first of July, when the 
men were to assemble again for muster-out and pay. The 
battery was not unheard during the prandial exercises and its 
salutes were appreciated by those for whom they were fired. 
As a small token of good will, Capt. Fred Barton presented a 
Rebel sabre, picked up on the battle field, to Capt. James 
Wells of the battery. Myron P. Walker, the "Little Drummer- 
Boy," after three years of campaigning, returned unharmed, 
and beat his drum in a manner to excite the admiration of all 
other users of the sticks. 

Many hearts were touched with sadness at seeing an elderly 
lady, with a bouquet of flowers in her hands to be given to her 
son, whom she expected to see in the ranks, all unconscious 
that he had been seriously wounded in a recent battle and 
was left behind in the hospital. And so the day ended. The 
reception lacked in nothing save for returning veterans to be 
received. Those who were there were royally welcomed. They 
were bringing no captives home to Rome whose ransom should 
the general coffers fill, but they were illustrating the wonders 
of a Republican government in whose behalf they had exposed 
their lives, and now, with honor crowned, happy that they 
had done their full duty, and ready to discharge whatever 
obligation the future might place upon them, they were about 
to go to that dearest, most sacred place on earth, HOME. 



June 25, '64 At Home 297 

POSTSCRIPT 

Northampton met her sons, the evening of the 25th, as the 
Springfield train came in, though there was no attempt at a 
formal reception, but hosts of people proclaimed the popular 
interest while rousing cheers made happy the veterans them- 
selves. Breaking up into smaller squads, neighboring places 
were sought till finally the individual vanished in the general 
throng of humanity. Belchertown, more remote from the 
hurrying center, was nevertheless more expressive of her 
sentiments than some more populous localities. When the 
train from Palmer brought home her boys, the people were at 
the station and the veterans, including the drummer-boy, 
Myron P. Walker, were greeted with hearty cheers, while S. 
W. Longley, Esq., marshal of the occasion, made a welcoming 
speech. Then, accompanied by a brass band and a large array 
of citizens, the veterans marched to the town hall where another 
sumptuous spread awaited them and they were again welcomed, 
this time in behalf of the ladies who had prepared the food. 
Dr. C. B. King was the speaker and T. R. Green, Esq., re- 
sponded for the soldiers. Following the feast more speeches 
were made by the Revs. Blake and Fay and Mr. F. B. Phelps. 

Greenfield was ready to receive all that were left of Com- 
panies G and H, escorting the veterans to the Mansion House 
where a spread was awaiting them, the members of Franklin 
Engine Company, doing the hospitable act for their returning 
friends; but Company H was not home yet. The survivors, 
taking team conveyance, were carried over the mountains to 
Shelburne Falls, arriving at midnight. Late as it was the 
"boys" were met by the Fire Company and the band and with 
torch hghts and music came back to their own, the entire 
village population being awake and out to greet them. There 
were hearty hand shakes and "Home Again" by the band, 
with speeches and welcomes, till at last they were permitted 
to retire to their respective homes. 

Similar stories might be told of every considerable village 
which sent men into the Tenth Regiment; Great Barrington, 



298 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

Pittsfield, Westfield, Adams and North Adams, Spencer 
and Holyoke all received the remnants of the gallant 
men who three years before had left them. Through all 
of the gladness, however, there was a vein of sadness, for the 
home coming lacked so many faces, never to be seen on earth 
again. Perhaps it was the pitifully small array of Company B 
which returned to the Adamses that prevented the providing 
of the thanksgiving dinner, promised the men in Adams when 
they were entertained there before starting for Springfield in 
June, 1861, (Vide story of Company B, in the Roster) for 
certainly no survivor of the Company has any recollection of 
the fulfillment of the vow, and Adams still owes him one. 
One personal home coming is worthy of narration here. 
Charles A. Gates of Lee, a boy of nineteen, wished to enlist, 
but his parents were unwilling, so one spring morning he 
drove the cows to pasture and then went to peeling bark from 
certain fallen trees on the hillside. But he was lonesome and 
could not get the idea of enlisting out of his head, so leaving 
the bark and cows he proceeded to the rendezvous and joined 
his fellows. He served his term without a furlough, did not 
receive a scratch and, when the jubilation in Springfield was 
over, he took the cars for Becket, crossed over the hills afoot 
to Lee and, nearing his home at cow-time, drove up the herd 
with gun on shoulder and knapsack on his back after an 
absence of three years. 

Friday, July 1st, agreeable to the terms of their furloughs, 
the Field and Staff with Companies E, G, H, I and K assem- 
bled in Springfield and, on Court Square, were mustered-out 
of the United States service by Lieutenant Arnold of the 18th 
Regulars. Nearly a week later, or Wednesday, the 6th, the 
remainder of the Companies, viz, A, B, C, D and F appeared 
in the same place and were duly mustered-out by the same 
officer. There was still an important finality to be observed, 
viz, the paying oft' of officers and men, an agreeable exercise 
observed in Springfield, August 18th, when more than $42,000 
in greenbacks was distributed among the veterans, accounts 
being thus squared between the Government and the Regi- 



Grand ARjn' Posts 299 

ment, save in the case of some officers who were in arrears 
for clothing, etc. 

The last scene of all in this eventful history was beheld at 
the State House in Boston, Friday, Dec. 22, 1865, (Fore- 
fathers' Day). Under the direction of Gen. Darius N. Couch, 
so long in command of brigade, division and corps, veterans 
from nearly all of the regiments that had served in the Rebel- 
lion, had assembled to formally return the colors so honorably 
borne through days of strife and death to the perpetual care 
and keeping of the Commonwealth. The day is memorable 
in the annals of Massachusetts and, many years later, the 
scene was beautifully depicted in lasting colors upon the walls 
of the Memorial Hall, that Pantheon of the Old Bay State. 
Lieut. Col. J. B. Parsons, accompanied by ten officers and 
twenty men, formally placed in the custody of the Common- 
wealth the two standards presented to the Regiment by the 
ladies of Springfield and which were exchanged at War- 
renton, July 29th, '63, for a new one sent down by Governor 
Andrew (vide p. 215). 

GRAND ARMY POSTS 

Names of members of the Regiment are made prominent 
in the appellations of Posts of the Grand Army of the Republic 
thus: 

E. K. Wilcox Post, No. 16, Springfield preserves the 
memory of the first Sergeant Major of the Tenth who later, as 
Captain in the 27th, was killed at Cold Harbor. 

OzRo Miller Post, No. 93, Shelburne Falls, commemo- 
rates the life and valor of the local hero who led his Company 
H from that village and fell, gallantly fighting, at Malvern Hill. 

Edwin E. Day Post, No. 174, Greenfield, recalls the brave 
commander of Company G who fell at Fair Oaks where the 
Regiment received its first baptism of blood. 



300 



The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 




BRIGADIER GENERAL HENRY SHAW BRIGGS. 
First Colonel Tenth Massachusetts Infantry. 



June 21, 1907 Briggs Memorial 301 

HENRY SHAW BRIGGS 

BIOGRAPHICAL PORTION OF THE ADDRESS OF THE HON. FRAN- 
CIS W. ROCKWELL, AT THE UNVEILING OF THE MEMORIAL TABLET 
OF COL. HENRY S. BRIGGS AND THE TENTH MASSACHUSETTS VOL- 
UNTEER INFANTRY, AT PITTSFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, JUNE 21, 
1907. THE MEMORIAL, DUE LARGELY TO THE LABORS OF JOHN 
H. MANNING OF PITTSFIELD, STANDS IN THE CITY's PUBLIC PARK. 

Born at Lanesborough, eighty-three years ago (Aug. 1, 
1824), son of George Nixon Briggs, for seven consecutive years 
the beloved Governor of this Commonwealth; a student at 
Lenox Academy; a graduate of Williams College (1844); an 
original member in 1844 of the old Housatonic Engine Com- 
pany, a volunteer organization composed of Pittsfield's leading 
citizens; a law student with the firm of Rockwell and Colt, 
and at the Harvard Law School; a practitioner at Pittsfield 
after his admission to the Bar; serving as Captain of Company 
A, First Battalion of Infantry, known as "The Pittsfield 
Guard" in 1855 (an organization formed under an order of 
July 30, 1853) ; a member of the Massachusetts Legislature 
in 1856; Police Justice at Pittsfield in 1857; holding the rank 
of Major in the First Battalion of Infantry, that officer being 
the commander, and present with his stafif at the review on 
Boston Common (Oct. 18, 1860) held in honor of the Prince 
of Wales; ever interested as a citizen in all that pertained to 
local matters; serving on the school committee in 1859, when 
his report discloses a marked practical interest in educational 
matters, as well as his thoughtful care and great interest for 
the education of the young — he held a rare position, as a 
young man, previous to the Civil War, in Pittsfield and in the 
county. 

By birth of a leading Berkshire family, by inheritance and 
training a man of intellectual strength, he was fitted for any 
position. He had a wide knowledge of his country's history, 
an ardent love for the Commonwealth. By inheritance, 
training and inclination he was a patriot. 

When the war came he fully understood the issues involved, 
foresaw the strength, dignity and position the country would 
assume among the nations of the world, if the Union could 
be preserved, appreciated the great good to follow the con- 
tinued preservation of the United States, as a refuge for an 
oppressed world, as a field for the development of the highest 
type of liberty known to men. He fully grasped the issues 
involved in the war for the Union, and stood readv, when the 



302 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

contest arose, to defend his principles, his hearth-stone, and 
his country, with his hfe. Such was the man at the outbreak 
of the war. 

We have seen how he made ready a company of townsmen 
from the best material, whom he knew and upon whom he 
could rely, to take an active part in the contest his judgment 
told him would surely arise. We have seen how he drilled 
and prepared them the year before they were actually called 
into service, how he fitted himself to be their captain, and 
how he and they being ready he seized the earliest opportun- 
ity to spring to the defense of the flag he and they loved. 

We have followed him as with industry and perseverance 
he drilled and disciplined the Regiment to whose leadership 
he was assigned, inspiring them with his determination, his 
dauntless enthusiasm, giving them of his best intelligence, 
until they were welded into a splendid organization. In al- 
most their first battle, when tested under a terrific fire, in a 
difficult position, although broken and shattered, they rallied, 
reformed and renewed the contest. 

What manner of man was this! Of what force, character 
and inspiration! 

While disabled he was promoted (July 2, 1862) by President 
Lincoln, Brigadier General of Volunteers "for gallant conduct 
on the field." Is it to be wondered at that his townsmen, a 
few days after his promotion, when it became known that 
he might be present at a war meeting at the town house, 
crowded the building so that the gathering was held under 
the old elm in the open park. What a reception he had! 
Standing with difficulty, because of his wounds, he addressed 
the audience, everyone of whom knew him personally! It 
was indeed another day for Pittsfield when the Captain of 
its Allen Guard, the Colonel of the gallant Tenth that had 
already won its laurels, the promoted Brigadier General, but 
recently rescued from death on the field, still enthusiastic 
for future service for his country, stood before them. I can 
see him now standing on the little platform. The older 
citizens of Pittsfield will recall the just pride they had in the 
man himself, and the tender pathos of that hour. 

As soon as his wounds would permit. General Briggs re- 
joined the army, commanding a brigade in Humphrey's 
Division, Fifth Corps. He afterward commanded a separate 
brigade in the Eighth Corps; the First Division, First Corps; 
he was then assigned the rendezvous of drafted men and 
volunteers at Alexandria, and from July, 1864, until final 



June 21, 1907 Briggs Memorial 303 

muster-out, Dec. 6, 1865, served on General Court -Martial at 
Washington, thus completing four and a half years of faithful 
and efhcient service. 

Before his discharge, in the fall of 1865, he was elected State 
Auditor of Massachusetts and re-elected in 1866, 1867, and 
1868. On the establishment of the District Court of Central 
Berkshire, in 1869, the first court of that character in the 
Commonwealth, by common consent, in recognition of his 
legal abilities as demonstrated at the Bar, his reputation for 
good judgment as exhibited in the trials on General Court- 
Martial at Washington, as well as his patriotic services and 
his peculiar knowledge of the territory within the jurisdiction 
of the court, he was made the standing justice. Those of us 
who, as young men, practiced before him love to recall his 
clear methods in reaching his decisions, his knowledge of the 
law, his fine discrimination, and his watchful effort to do justice. 

In 1871, he was a member of the committee on the erection 
of the soldiers' monument. Resigning from the bench in 1873, 
he was made one of the general appraisers of the government 
to equalize customs appraisals, a board to whom were referred 
questions arising in the administration of those delicate 
matters. 

How that day comes back, twenty years ago, when General 
Briggs appeared in public for the last time ! The illness which 
was to terminate his life within two weeks was plainly upon 
him, but his love for the soldiers was so strong and great that, 
even in the storm, he attended the twenty-fifth anniversary 
reunion of the Thirty-Seventh Regiment. His thoughts were 
with the old brigade, the Second Rhode Island, the Thirty- 
Sixth New York, the Seventh, the Tenth, the Thirty- 
Seventh Massachusetts. As he entered the banquet hall the 
veterans rose to receive him. The heartiness of the cheers 
with which the building rang attested the marked respect 
in which they held him and the regiment he represented. He 
had come from a sick bed that he might be with them. 

He was a man of painstaking industry, studious and careful. 
He had sincerity, a delightful courtesy. Kind and considerate 
he had sympathy coupled with strength. As a youth, in that 
old-time New England life in his native town of Lanesborough, 
he was the delight of every gathering. Charming in his 
conversation, a man of winning personality, of social tempera- 
ment, high spirited and chivalric, he was a general favorite 
throughout his life— a gentleman. As a soldier, of splendid 
courage, a good disciplinarian, thoughtful for the comfort o f 




^' 



June 21, 1907 Briggs Memorial 305 

his men. He was looking to see if the enemy were too near 
when he received his serious wounds at Fair Oaks. No danger 
was too great for him to face in the Hne of duty. He never 
forgot a favor. His letters, written to his family during the 
war, disclose a tender care and solicitude. He never forgot 
the reception the Regiment gave him, on his return to Camp 
Brightwood, after attending the last sad rites of the burial 
of his beloved father. He died September 2."-), 1SS7. 

I delight to give this gallant soldier this tribute here. How 
the memory loves to go back full fifty years and recall the 
visits paid, with one's parents, to the large old house under 
the western hill! It was indeed a pleasure to meet the honored 
sire who graced with charming simplicity, yet dignity, the 
evening hour, the mother who presided over that delightful 
home, the sons, well informed and coui^teous, the daughter, 
whose smile of welcome still lingers in the memory. All are 
gone! "These rocks and hills outlast our families." 

To the children with us today I would say: Could you 
have heard the church bells ringing, telling of defeat or victory, 
the music of the fife and drum, the people as they sang the 
old w^ar songs, the parting salute fired over the graves of the 
dead; could you have followed with your heart beats the 
simple music of the olden time, you too might have known the 
thoughts that surged when patriots were born by inspiration. 
Who shall estimate the soldiers' willing sacrifice to keep for 
you a nation, which secures your liberties! Let the love 
these veterans bore their country never be forgotten. As 
you pass the soldiers' monument and this spot, remember 
it was for mankind, your country, and for you. 

Men of the Tenth! We delight to extend to each of you per- 
sonally a cordial greeting, to remind you of the pride we take 
in your great achievements, to express, as far as words can, 
the deep, affectionate regard in which we hold you. As time 
goes on and your record, won on many a hard-fought field, 
often against overwhelming odds, is the more closely exam- 
ined, it but gains new luster. That record can never fade. 
While memory lasts, we who followed, in those terrible months 
of anxiety, your loyal service, can never forget the sacrifices 
you made. Your service was for the whole country and in no 
way, at no time, can ever be fully repaid. It was a service 
voluntarilv entered upon as American freemen to save and 
perpetuate the Republic. 

Men of the Tenth! The record of your regiment was long 
since made up. As time brings vou nearer the end the recol- 



306 The Tf.xth Massachusetts Txfaxtky 

lection of deeds well done will always cheer you. The pleasant 
remembrance of the comrades gone before will be with you. 
While reason and life remain these old memories will be 
yours, coupled with the thought that in your day and time 
history was made in brief periods and that you had a part 
in the making. 

Men of the Tenth! What prouder record could you have? 
In what could you take greater delight? You were of the 
men who counted life as naught in comparison with the 
blessings that would follow for millions yet unborn. The 
memory of your deeds will guide the future and be a beacon 
light for liberty. As the shadows of life's evening gather, as 
one by one the old comrades answer the final muster-out, who 
will be the last to pay his tribute here? That great host, 
gathered and to gather from out the earth of those who make 
their sacrifices here, are lost to sight. The eye of faith looks 
brightly forward. We believe that deeds done for the progress 
of the race are not forgotten, are forever cherished! The 
mysteries of birth, of life, of death are ever with us. but 
within us is the deep conviction that high and noble actions 
are jewels prized most highly. 

On this forty-sixth anniversary of their muster-in at 
Springfield, the remnant of the Tenth, a regiment that took 
part in some of the greatest battles of the Civil War. are 
assembled to honor the memory of their Colonel. What are 
their thoughts as they recall the parting words of Governor 
Briggs as they went forth to battle, that the design of that 
great contest was "to restore" their southern brethern "to 
the same privileges they claimed for themselves." — the words 
of Colonel Parsons, as he spoke of his lost comrades, "the 
sacrifice is indeed great, but we think our country worthy 
of it." — the words of General Grant, after the contest, "let 
us have peace," — the words of the immortal Lincoln, "with 
malice toward none, with charity for all." What are their 
thoughts as they reflect on their reunited country, — as they 
stand under the old flag, the emblem of their country's 
power. — as they recall their days, months, years of service. — 
the camp and battle scenes. — their companions in arms! 

We respect and honor them, and leave them to their high 
thoughts and deep emotions. Their lives have been length- 
ened to this hour. Xever again will they all assemble. Their 
visit and their mission have deeply touched our hearts. Long 
after the last tribute here is paid, will abide the tender mem- 
ory of the deep and lasting afl'ection they cherished for their 
loved commander! 



June 21, 1906 Parsons Eulogy 307 

COL. JOSEPH B. PARSONS 

DELIVERED BY MYRON P. WALKER, COMPANY C, AT THE 
REUNION OF THE TENTH MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENTAL ASSO- 
CIATION, HELD IN SPRINGFIELD, JUNE 21, 1906. 

Mr. President, Comrades and Friends: 

At the last meeting of the Executive Committee of our 
Association, a request was made that I prepare for our reunion 
at this time a eulogy upon the Hfe of Colonel Parsons. I said 
then that I could not do it, and I say now that I shall not 
even attempt it, not in the sense generally understood by the 
word. As well ask me to fix in their proper places the stars 
in their glory as to ask me to eulogize a particular member 
of the Tenth Regiment, because to me my comrades, from 
the highest officer to the humblest private, in so far as they 
were good soldiers and did their duty, were stars of the first 
magnitude, and those who have gone on before are brightly 
shining in the canopy of heaven. 

Synonyms for eulogy, however, are good words, tribute of 
praise, and there I find' myself at ease and rejoice in the oppor- 
tunity to speak the good words and pay my humble tribute 
of praise to the memory of him I loved so well. 

It is by no means a fairy story, though in fiction you will find 
very few more romantic. It was his story and many a time 
he told it in public and private life — how in the spring of 
'61 a lad appeared on Hampden Park and sought to fill the 
vacancy in his company for a musician. "What can you 
do? You could not take a twenty-eight inch step to save 
your life," said the Captain, "and, besides, your parents will 
not let you go to war!" "But, I can drum," replied the lad, 
and finally he was told to come the next day and so he did, 
bringing his mother with him. Then he was given a chance 
to play the drum, and the Captain always said that he stepped 
off at least thirty inches, so that with his parents' consent 
the lad was enlisted. I can hear that mother's voice even 
now as she said, "We give him into your charge," and if ever 
on earth a man was good and kind to the mother's son through 
years of trial and hardship, it was he whom we so sadly 
miss todav. 

And the'n when it was all over and the remnant of a splendid 
regiment came home, the Captain, now Lieutenant Colonel, 
filled as he must have been with his own pride and in the 
midst of a scene the Hke of which you men never saw before 
and will never see again, did not forget the duty and trust he 



308 



The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 




LIEUT. COL. JOS. B. PARSONS. 
1901. 



JuxNE 21, 1906 Parsons Eulogy 309 

had accepted three long years before, and pushing his way to 
the now fatherless boy who was for the first moment resting 
in his mother's arms, he said to her, "I remember your 
charge; he has been a good boy and we have brought him 
safely back to you." 

That was the beginning of my acquaintance with Colonel 
Parsons, and do you wonder that it ripened into a friendship 
true as the needle to the pole, a love that can be likened only 
to that which a child has for his parents. My father died 
during the war, and less than a year ago my mother was laid 
to rest in the village churchyard, and only a few days ago 
dear old Colonel Joe went to see them in the great world 
beyond, but today I feel that their spirits are here with you 
and me ! They seem to be beckoning me to come and I am 
almost ready to go. It won't be very long now, and whatever 
else awaits me over there, I know the welcome I shall receive 
from them. 

For about four years immediately following our coming 
home from the war I saw quite a little of the Colonel, being 
frequently a guest at his Northampton home, and then I 
drifted to CaHfornia. Seven years later I returned for the 
first time and, coming to Springfield to see my people, a 
brother informed me that Colonel Parsons was in camp at 
Framingham. Down there I went and, passing the outer 
gate, almost the first object to attract my attention was a 
battahon drill, and sure enough there was the Colonel doing 
the same old act and, as it was a hot day, I'll venture to say 
that those boys were getting everything that belonged to 
them. The regimental headquarters having been pointed out 
to me, I started to cross the field when a guard halted and 
ordered me to go around to the regular entrance. There was 
no mistaking the voice, — it was a comrade of the old Tenth, 
and you may be sure that I was not obliged to take any 
extra steps in reaching the Colonel's tent, where I found Mrs. 
Parsons and other old friends. Soon the Colonel came riding 
in and— well, you can guess the rest. Then more years of 
separation until I came back again to the home of my boy- 
hood. Time had brought outward changes to both of us, but 
had not changed our hearts. We did not have to renew our 
love for each other, but kept right on doing it in the same 
old way. 

In 1888 I was chosen Commander of the Department of 
Massachusetts, Grand Army of the Republic, and my second 
official act was to tender the Colonel an appointment on my 



310 



The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 



stafif. It was accepted and very soon the fun began. In slang 
parlance, I did not do a thing to Colonel Joe. Can't you hear 
him kicking when he did not like his orders? — but I simply 
reminded him that for three years I was obliged to obey him, 
and assured him that for one year I proposed to make it as 
pleasant for him as he made it for me. I really think he en- 
joyed being trimmed occasionally by his drummer-boy. It 
was during this year that he obtained the appointment of 
State Pension Agent, which gave him congenial employment 
in the service of the state and for his comrades until his death. 
Many incidents I might relate to you — in fact, the after- 
noon is not long enough to tell them all, and, if I did, it would 
be but a continuation of good words and tribute of praise. 
What, my comrades, would be the use of eulogizing Colonel 
Parsons to you or among ourselves? If he is to be spoken of 




MYRON P. WALKER. 



June 21, 1906 Parsons Eulogy 311 

as a soldier and by soldiers, let Gilmore, Bigelow, Pierce, 
Judd, Hersey, Warriner, and every one of you, officers and 
privates, rise and tell what you think about him! How many 
times from this platform and elsewhere has he spoken for you. 
If he is to be spoken of to civilians, is there anybody in Massa- 
chusetts who has not heard of the fighting Tenth and always 
and forever connected with it Colonel Parsons? Ask the 
widows and orphans of thousands of soldiers, who helped them 
in their need, and they may answer, "Colonel Parsons." Ask 
men and women, boys and girls, all over Massachusetts from 
the hills of Berkshire^o the sands of the Cape, whom they most 
dehghted to see and hear when he so eloquently spoke for 
our country and its flag, and many of them will answer, 
"Colonel Parsons." 

Did he have faults? Of course he did, and so have you 
and I, but whom did you first ask for when reunion day came, 
and whom did you miss more than any one man if he were not 
present ? Colonel Parsons. Will somebody ask me about his 
church or religion? I never thought to ask him, but I do 
recall more than once at our reunions and on many other 
occasions his ringing, confident voice appealing to "Our Father 
who art in Heaven." His speech and manner was ever those 
of the high-minded, dignified, and chivalrous gentleman, and 
I firmly beheve that to so Hve as he lived, one need not fear 
to lay down the burdens of this life and enter into the great 
hereafter, where 

"By the light of love's white throne, 
We shall see at last as we are seen. 
And know as we are known." 

It was a long and useful Hfe— seventy-eight years— and 
I am told that it ended as gently as the setting sun sinks 
behind the western hills. I wish that all of our association 
could have been present, but we were largely represented, 
and our comrades from Baker Post, to whom we should be 
specially grateful, gave a soldier's burial to our old Commander, 
up there in the beautiful Meadow City which had always been 
his home and which he loved so well. It is only one more 
mound in the cemetery where rest Wetherell, Brewster, 
Braman, Kingsley, and many others of our gallant regiment! 
Just one more little flag for a marker, just a few more flowers 
when the springtime comes again. He would not have us 
call him back! He would not have us sad at our reunion 
today, but, if he could speak, it would be a word of good 



312 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

cheer, urging us to renew our comradeship and love for each 
other, not only today, but at all subsequent reunions, until 
taps shall have been sounded for our last member. Our own 
days are swiftly passing, and it is well to remember that 

"Softly the shadows are creeping. 

Creeping o'er you and o'er me. 
Soon, having passed through the darkness, 

We shall awaken to see 
Morning, in full splendor glowing, 

Glowing for you and for me." 

And in the splendor of that awakening in the great world 
beyond, where God reigns, and Jesus will be the great Captain 
of us all, who knows but when the silvery bugle shall have 
sounded the reveille, we may hear the voice of him we miss 
and mourn today crying once again, "Fall in, men of the 
Tenth." 

For myself, and so far as I may speak for you, I can only 
say. Peace to his ashes. Hail and Farewell. 

THE OLD BRIGADE 

Not many regiments had the privilege of uninterrupted 
connection with the same brigade organization throughout 
their entire service, yet just this lot was the pleasant one 
of the Tenth Regiment. As early as August 4, '61, we find 
General McClellan organizing "Colonel Couch's Brigade," 
consisting of the Second Rhode Island, Seventh and Tenth 
Massachusetts and the 36th New York. Until, one after 
another, those regiments fell out through expiration of ser- 
vice, they camped, marched and fought side by side. In the 
summer of 1862 came the 37th Massachusetts as a welcome 
addition to the quartette and, when all others had gone home, 
it continued to bear aloft the colors. No member of any one 
of those regiments was ever known to speak ill of any regiment 
in the brigade. When Couch was succeeded by Devens and 
the latter by Eustis, the same spirit of brotherhood continued 
and Devens's Brigade always had, in the hearts of its members, 
a significance unsurpassed, if equalled, in any other organ- 
ization of its kind in the army. The last time representatives 
of the brigade came together was on July 4th, 1906, in Worces- 



The Old Brigade 313 

ter, when the bronze equestrian statue of General Devens 
was unveiled. The appearance of the veterans of Devens's 
old brigade was quite the feature of the occasion. 

THE THIRTY-SIXTH NEW YORK 

The regiment was known as a New York City organization, 
but Company A was from Buffalo, Company B from Newburgh, 
Company I from Brooklyn, all others from the metropolis, and 
it was one of the many regiments that Irish Americans gave 
to the country's good. Its muster-in extended from June 17th 
to July 4th, 1861. The first Colonel, Charles H. Innis, resigned 
July 6th, '62 and was succeeded by Wm. H. Browne, who 
continued to the muster-out, though severely wounded at 
Marye's Heights. The regiment left New York July 12th, '61, 
and soon after reaching Washington became intimate with 
the Tenth in brigade relations, the same continuing to the 
very end. The boys of the 36th always credited the Tenth 
with saving them from annihilation at Fair Oaks and, there- 
after, nothing on their part was too good for the lads from 
Massachusetts. This feehng found expression May 3d, '63. 
Though at the extreme right of the line and, thus, not in the 
charge itself, the Tenth was exposed to a galling fire from the 
enemy. This came to the ears of the 36th, lying on the plain, 
awaiting orders to charge Marye's Heights. Hearing of the 
danger to which their friends were exposed, forgetful of the 
far greater peril into which they were soon to rush, they 
shouted to their commander, "Paddy Walsh, the Tinth is 
in trouble, let's go and help thim!" as altruistic a sentiment 
as ever found expression, though the dear boys who uttered 
it would not know the meaning of the word. Their Catholic 
services were utilized at times by communicants of that faith 
in our Regiment and everywhere they were the best of 
neighbors. It will be remembered that the regiment drew 
out of line on that swift march to Gettysburg, though they 
reached New York in time to lose one of their number in the 
sad Draft Riots of July 13th- 15th. The regiment was formally 
mustered-out July 15th under the command of Col. Wm. H. 



314 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

Browne. The recruits to the regiment were transferred to the 
65th New York Volunteers, to serve out their time. Its killed 
and mortally wounded numbered 37, while one man died in 
the hands of the enemy. 

THE SEVENTH MASSACHUSETTS 
Perhaps no body of men ever better deserved the name 
of the "Old Colony Regiment" than that one which, recruited 
and organized in Taunton under the direction of Darius N. 
Couch, received the numeric label of "Seventh" and later 
became an intimate associate of the Tenth in their Virginian 
rambles. Possibly, also, no other regiment had so many 
Colonels promoted to the rank of Brigadier and Major General. 
However, as these four officers, Couch, N. H. Davis, D. A. 
Russell and Thos. D. Johns, were all West Pointers the pro- 
motions may not seem so strange. Only one of the regimental 
colonels, Joseph Wheelock, and he was from the same military 
school, failed to win a star for his shoulder. Then there was 
that magnificent man who reached no higher rank than Lieu- 
tenant Colonel, Franklin P. Harlow, who led the regiment 
in so many dire straits, who never faltered, no matter what 
the emergency ; there was not a man in the ranks who did not 
deem him worthy of the same elevation that had come to the 
other leaders of the regiment. No organization, outside of 
the Tenth itself, is more often mentioned within these pages 
and of no body did the men of Western Massachusetts enter- 
tain a higher opinion. Where one regiment went, there also 
went the other; in this respect Ruth and Naomi were not more 
closely bound. It drew out of the ranks just a few days before 
the Tenth did the same, viz, June 15th, and proceeding to 
Massachusetts, was mustered-out July 5th in Taunton. In 
1890, a history of the regiment by Nelson V. Hutchinson was 
published in Taunton by the Regimental Association. Bound 
in blue, bearing on its side the Greek Cross of the Sixth Army 
Corps, its 320 pages teem with interesting matter, which has 
been drawn upon whenever desirable in the preparation of this 
volume. As in the case of the Tenth, all holdover men were 



The Old Brigade 315 

transferred to the ranks of the oTth, to there serve out their 
enlistments. It lost 74 men, killed and mortally wounded, 
and six men died in the hands of the enemv. 

THE SECOND RHODE ISLAND 

In the Rebellion annals of Rhode Island, only the First, 
the regiment of Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside, preceded our 
friends of the Second in their departure for the South. They 
were mustered-in, June 5th and 6th, with John S. Slocum as 
Colonel, thus being the second regiment to be received for 
three years from New England, its senior being the First 
Massachusetts. Leaving Providence, June 19th, it reached 
Washington on the 22d. Arriving thus earlv, the regiment was 
in time for Bull Run where twenty-four men, including Colonel 
Slocum, were killed or mortally wounded. Of its life in 
Brightwood, it is unnecessary to speak here save to state that 
their fort, or the one constructed by them, received the name 
of their gallant Colonel and was known throughout the war 
as Fort Slocum. Col. John S. Slocum won a commission in 
the Mexican War, and while his career in the War of the 
Rel)ellion was brief, it certainly was brilliant. Slocum Post 
of Providence has kept the Colonel's memorv green in Grand 
Army circles. The second Colonel, Frank Wheaton, we remem- 
ber in all the grades from Lieutenant Colonel to Brevet Major 
General, commanding the First Division after the death of 
D. A. Russell. Subsequent to the war, he continued in the 
army. Nelson Viall, the third commander of the Second, was 
Rhode Island born and had served through the Mexican War. 
The impression he made upon the Tenth during the period of 
his commanding the same, is realized when it is known that 
many officers of the Regiment would have been glad to have 
him succeed Colonel Briggs. His service terminated with 
the rank of Brevet Brigadier General. Horatio Rogers, 
Jr., who succeeded Colonel Viall, was a graduate of Brown 
University ; he was transferred from the Lieutenant Colonelcy 
of the Eleventh Rhode Island to the command of the Second. 
In everv wav a most admirable officer, he too won his Brevet 



316 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

rank as Brigadier General. Lastly came Samuel B. M. Read, 
succeeding to the command just before the departure of the 
Tenth, and he came home with the regiment. Of the re-organ- 
ized Second which served through to Appomattox, Elisha H. 
Rhodes was the efficient Colonel and he too won the Brevet 
rank of Brigadier General. The story of the regiment, as told 
by the Rev. Augustus Woodbury, is a noteworthy volume 
of 633 pages, published in 1875, an excellent record of a most 
excellent organization. The Second is found among the three 
hundred "fighting regiments" as accounted by Fox. Its 
list of killed and mortally wounded numbers 120, while 
twelve men died in Confederate prisons. 

THP: THIRTY-SEVENTH MASSACHUSETTS 

Somehow, the boys of the Tenth could never get over the 
feeling that the new regiment, which came down to the Brigade 
in the late summer of 1862, was a sort of younger brother. 
Coming from the same localitv, its memliers intimate acquaint- 
ances, if not relatives, of the rank and file of the Tenth; its 
Colonel, Oliver Edwards, the highly prized Adjutant of the 
earlier organization, what wonder that the older soldiers 
were more than pleased when the younger volunteers were 
attached to the Brigade! Of the meeting of the regiments in 
the field, the historian of the 37th has this to sav (p. 80); 

Presently from the head of the column a strong, hearty 
cheer rang out, and traveled quickly from company to com- 
pany, taken up by many who only guessed the cause. "It's 
the Tenth Regiment!" rang out from file to file, and the cheers 
were redoubled. The marching column halted and the two 
commands mingled. They were brothers, school mates, 
friends. The hills of Berkshire and the valley of the Connecti- 
cut were the homes of each. The older regiment had given 
some of its best material toward the formation of the new. 
Their fortunes were henceforth to be identified, their banners 
to go side by side into the supreme test of battle. Yet there 
was a marked contrast in the two bodies as they thus came 
into association. Exposure, disease, the march and battle 
had wasted the Tenth to a remnant of its original self; its 
banners and clothing gave unmistakable testimonv to the 



The Old Brigade 317 

arduous service through which it had passed. The 37th, on 
the other hand, had full ranks, bright banners, fresh uniforms; 
but the hearts which beat along the different lines were tilled 
with the same love of country, the same consecration to 
principle, the same devotion to "the old flag" as the emblem 
of National unity- 

Of the efficient services of the regiment, wherever placed, 
there is no need to write here; incidentally they appear on 
many of the preceding pages. That the regiment became the 
residuary legatee of the two Massachusetts regiments, which 
returned to their homes in June, '64, has already been told. 
After we left the ranks of the Brigade, the regiment saw the 
remainder of the fierce campaign of Grant, was with Sheridan 
in the Valley, fought the winter through in front of Peters- 
burg, followed the retreating Confederates to Appomattox, 
pausing to fight the battle of Sailor's Creek on the way, and 
then came home at last in the midsummer of '65. Col. Oliver 
Edwards commanded the Brigade later, and finally became 
a full Brigadier General. Rufus P. Lincoln commanded the 
regiment as Lieutenant Colonel and Mason W. Tyler succeeded, 
though his real rank was that of Major at muster-out. Lieut. 
Col. George L. Montague won a high place in the hearts of 
his men, all of whom regretted his enforced resignation on 
account of wounds. It was mustered-out of the United States 
service July 21, 1865. Few regiments have been more fortu- 
nate in the character of their history. In 1884, James L. 
Bowen, a member of the regiment, put forth a recital of the 
career of the organization that is a monument of careful 
research and admirable compilation. With this in his pos- 
session, every survivor of the 37th may feel that his record 
is secure. One of the immortal three hundred as classified 
by Fox, it lost in killed and mortally wounded, 169 men, 
besides twelve who died in Confederate prisons. 

BRIGADE DIVISION AND CORPS 
RELATIONS 

Brigade: Aug. 4, '61, it was known as Couch's Brigade, 
Division of the Potomac; Oct. 15, '61, it was Couch's Brigade, 



Department Commanders 319 

Buell's Division, Army of the Potomac; from March 13, '62, 
Third Brigade, First Division, Fourth Corps; from June, '62, 
First Brigade, First Division, Fourth Corps; from Sept., '62, 
First Brigade, Third Division, Sixth Corps; from Dec, '62, 
Second Brigade, Third Division, Sixth Corps; from May 4, 
'64, Fourth Brigade, Second Division, Sixth Corps. Successive 
Brigade Commanders were D. N. Couch, H. S. Briggs, Charles 
Devens, I. N. Palmer (temporary), Wm. H. Browne, H. L. 
Eustis and Oliver Edwards. 

Division: Don Carlos Buell, subsequently to win fame 
in the West, was the first Division Commander to whom the 
Tenth Regiment deferred and he was followed by E. D. Keyes; 
as a division in the Fourth Corps, D. N. Couch became com- 
mander; when the latter went to the command of the Second 
Corps he was followed as head of the Third Division, Sixth 
Corps, by John Newton; the latter was followed by Joseph 
J. Bartlett and Henry D. Terry; as one of the Fourth Brigade, 
Second Division, the commanders were A. P. Howe, D. A. 
Russell (temporary), later Geo. W. Getty with whom the 
Regiment remained until its muster-out. 

Corps: The Tenth's First Corps Commander was Erasmus 
D. Keyes, whose command was later known as the Fourth 
Corps, and thus the situation was until the Division of General 
Couch was added to the Sixth Corps, Sept., '62 ; W. F. ("Baldy") 
Smith in command of the Corps; on the transferral of the 
latter to North Carolina, "Uncle" John Sedgwick succeeded, 
to be followed at his death by H. G. Wright w^ho held the 
position to the end. 

DEPARTMENT COMMANDERS 

No regiment from the Bay State has furnished so many 
commanders for the Massachusetts Department, Grand Army 
of the RepubHc as the Tenth. They are as follows: 

John W. Hersey (H), 1SS5; he was Senior Vice Commander 
the preceding year. 

Myron P. Walker (C), 1888. 

Dwight O. Judd (I), 1903; had been Senior and Junior Vice 
Commander in preceding years. 



320 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

Commanders have also been found from the Tenth for other 
departments thus : 

Wm. H. Brown (B), 1896, Department, North Dakota. 
Clement F. Drake (H), 1904, Department, Idaho. 

GETTYSBURG MONUMENT 

The best marked battle field in the world is that of Gettys- 
burg. Centuries hence, the student, guide book in hand, will 
trace out the positions occupied by the contending armies 
during those three days when the fate of humanity was at 
stake. Happily the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has 
taken care that the deeds of her sons in that fiery trial shall 
not be overlooked. In the Legislative session of 1883, largely 
through the influence of Col. John B. Bachelder, the sum of 
$5,000 was appropriated for the purchase of additional 
grounds of special interest on the Gettysburg field, for acquir- 
ing right of way and for preserving and beautifying said 
battle field. The resolve was approved May 29, 1883, and in 
the August following, a meeting was called of representatives 
of the various Massachusetts organizations engaged in the 
battle. Colonel Bachelder was present and explained the 
design and intentions of the resolve and, for the purpose of 
identifying and indicating the several positions held by these 
commands, a committee was appointed. 

Said committee promoted an excursion which, one hundred 
and thirty-three strong, left the State on the evening of 
October 23d, and reached Gettysburg the following night, 
giving the 25th and the 26th to a careful study of the places 
connected with the stories of the several regiments. Eustis's 
Brigade was represented by Col. F. T. Harlow, Capt. Zeba 
F. Bliss and W. T. Wilde of the Seventh; Joel H. Hendrick 
and S. K. Hindley of the Tenth; James L. Bowen, S. F. Wood, 
Cyrus W. Cross, D. M. Chapman and Wm. F. Abbott of the 
37th. Having a common interest, these men decided upon a 
position near Little Round Top , where they lay during the night , 
as that of the Brigade on the second day; that for the third 
day, on the Taneytown road, where in passing from the center 



Gettysburg Monument 



321 




GETTYSBURG MONUMENT. 



322 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

to the left, the Brigade encountered a severe artillery fire 
which, in a few moments, killed and wounded over thirty men 
of the 37th. Later through the efforts of Colonel Bachelder 
the Brigade was granted permission to move its tablets for- 
ward for the second day to Battle field Avenue, directly in 
front of where the regiments lay in line of battle. 

The Legislature of 1884, March 25, voted to each organiza- 
tion from the State the sum of $500.00 towards erecting a 
monument upon the field. On the suggestion of Colonel 
Bachelder, it was decided that the memorials of the Brigade 
should stand on the line of the third day's position as the 
more important historically. Later the monument of the 
Second Rhode Island, forming the left of the Brigade has 
been added, thus completing the line, though between it and 
the memorial of the Seventh Massachusetts stands the monu- 
ment of the First Massachusetts Cavalry. 

At the reunion of the Tenth Regiment, held in Northamp- 
ton, June 21, 1884, H. M. Converse (I), J. H. Hendrick (F), 
and S. K. Hindley (H) were appointed a committee to select a 
design for a monument and to arrange for construction and 
erection on the proper site. With a local pride at once proper 
and commendable the design presented by Capt. J. K. Newell 
(I) was adopted and its execution was intrusted to Artist M. H. 
Mosman (Co. D, 46th Mass.) of Chicopee. The result is one of 
the most artistic on the field; its square granite pedestal, six 
feet, six inches in height, bears on its finely polished panels, the 
inscription, "10th Massachusetts; 2d Brigade, 3d Division, 
6th Corps, July 2d, 1863." Surmounting the granite is a fine 
bronze design, representing a stack of muskets with fixed 
bayonets. Resting on the stone and rising in a pyramid 
within the stack, are a drum, knapsack, cartridge-box and 
canteen, the two latter pendent from the guns. The total 
height to the points of the bayonets is thirteen feet and six 
inches. The entire cost of the memorial, including the turf- 
ing of the ground, was $1002.25. The granite was furnished 
by the Chester Granite Company (Western Massachusetts) 
by whom it was dressed and finished. The monument was 
placed in position early in October, 1885. 



Gettysburg Monument 323 

The joint committees of the Tenth and Thirty-Seventh 
Regiments arranged for an excursion to the battle field, the 
first full week in October and all necessary preparation was 
left in the hands of James L. Bowen, Historian of the 37th 
Regiment and President of its Veteran Association. To him 
also was assigned the task of preparing the oration for the 
dedication. Both the 7th Mass. and the 2d. R. I. were invited 
to accompany the party; the former accepted but the latter 
had already arranged to go with a party from its own state. 
As an indispensable accompaniment, Colonel Bachelder was 
secured as general guide and informant. The excursion left 
Springfield, Monday, Oct. 4, at 7.50 p. m., going thence to 
New Haven and from that point by boat to New York. 
Through New Jersey, Philadelphia and Harrisburg the party 
reached Gettysburg at 6 p. m. of the 5th. Better weather for 
the purpose could not be asked and Wednesday was devoted 
to explorations of the field, followed at night by the joint 
dedicatory exercises of the Brigade and of the 139th Penn. 
in the skating rink. 

Massachusetts came first, Capt. J. A. Loomis of the 37th 
presiding. Prayer was offered by Chaplin George F. Smith, 
Post 86, G. A R., Northampton, followed by music, after which 
Comrade Bowen delivered the dedicatory address, a most 
timely, instructive and eloquent effort, securing and holding 
the rapt attention of all listeners. Next the monuments were 
formally presented to the Gettysburg Battle Field Monument 
Association with appropriate remarks by representatives of 
the several regiments. President Church spoke for the 
Seventh, while Treasurers H. M. Abbott of the Thirty-seventh 
and J. H. Hendrick of the Tenth did the same for their re- 
spective committees. Comrade Hendrick concluded his re- 
marks with these words, "The men representative of a 
regimental committee cannot adequately charge your Associa- 
tion with this duty, nor can these citizens of our state who 
unite with us in these ceremonies ; neither can these comrades 
who here wore the blue twenty-five years ago. But with 
whatever of authoritv there mav be in unanimity of sen- 



324 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

timent, Massachusetts herself bids, 'Take care of yonder 
sacred trophies. See that no enemies, less invincible than time 
and the elements, destroy a memorial which marks the place 
where my sons stood in defense of the Union.'" The Hon, 
David A. Buechler, vice-president of the Association re- 
ceived the trusts in fitting terms, paying a glowing tribute to 
the patriotism of the Old Bay State. 

Thursday was devoted to still further sight-seeing and 
descriptions, ending with an evening at the Court House 
with Comrade Bowen in the chair, with appropriate and 
eloquent speeches from Gen. H. S. Briggs, Colonel J. B. Parsons 
and Messrs. Bachelder and Buechler. The party comprised 
from the Tenth, General H. S. Briggs, the first Colonel of the 
Regiment, Colonel J. B. Parsons, the last, and Adjutant 
C. H. Brewster with A. F. Fargo, Geo. H. Holmes and Kerran 
Ryan all of "A;" S. F. Kimball, "B;" J. P. Coburn,"G;" 
N. S. Corn well, I. H. Howard, C. B. Kingsley, Alvin Rust 
andS. S. WilHams, "C;" Jesse Prickett, "E;" J. H. Hendrick, 
"F," of the Committee; W. H. Adams, J. F. Bartlett, M. H. 
Vincent, "H;" Wm. H. Loomis, Cornelius Sackett, Adam 
Swan, "K. " 

LINCOLN'S ADDRESS AT GETTYSBURG 

As this story of the Tenth Regiment is published in the 
centennial year of the President's birth, it is deemed appro- 
priate that his famous address at the dedication of the Ceme- 
tery, November 19, 1863, should be printed in this connection. 
Two members of the regiment, John E. Atwood of "B" and 
and W. W. Mason of " K" helped form the color guard of the 
Massachusetts delegation on that occasion. Possibly no other 
equal number of words ever spoken in the English language, 
have attained such universal praise and fame. Uttered after 
those of that master of rhetoric and oratory, Edward Everett 
of Massachusetts, their full majesty did not occur to those 
who listened nor to those who read but in the light of later 
years they have acquired a popular appreciation never ex- 
celled. The words of the address, as printed in various places, 



Veteran Organization 325 

differ; the text reproduced here is that of the cards, framed 
and placed in many National Cemeteries by the Government, 
hence probably the most nearly accurate : 

Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth 
upon this continent a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and 
dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. 

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether 
that nation, or any nation, so conceived and so dedicated, 
can long endure. We are met on a great battle field of that 
war. We are met to dedicate a portion of it as the final 
resting place of those who here gave their lives that that 
nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we 
should do this. 

But in a larger sense we cannot dedicate, we cannot con- 
secrate, we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, 
living and dead, who struggled here have consecrated it far 
above our power to add or detract. The world will little note 
nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget 
what they did here. It is for us, the living, rather to be dedi- 
cated here to the unfinished work that they have thus far 
so nobly carried on. It is rather for us to be here dedicated 
to the great task remaining before us — that from these honored 
dead we take increased devotion to the cause for which they 
here gave the last full measure of devotion — that we here 
highly resolve that the dead shall not have died in vain ; that 
the nation shall, under God, have a new birth of freedom, 
and that the government of the people, by the people, and for 
the people, shall not perish from the earth. 

VETERAN ORGANIZATION 

That an organization of the veterans of the Tenth would soon 
follow the close of the war was inevitable. It began in North- 
ampton, July 1st, 1868. First Sergt. Henry M. Converse, 
Company I, writes, "A meeting was held in Agricultural 
Hall, Pleasant Street, and an Association was formed with 
General Henry S. Briggs, the first Colonel, as President." 
Annual meetings have been held since, enlivening thus, at 
twelve months' intervals, and in different years, most of the 
considerable towns and cities in the western portions of the 
Commonwealth. Though organized in July, it was early 




S M o 



s 5 



-2 I 






Veteran Organization 327 

thought that the best day for the reunions was that on which 
the Regiment was mustered-in, hence, in the forty interven- 
ing years, the 21st of June has been the assembhng day, except 
when the same fell on Sunday. 

Many different officers and enlisted men have served as 
President and Secretary, indeed, some have at different times 
filled both positions. To the smaller places, the coming of 
the veterans has meant much and the way in which supplies 
for the occasion were sent in and the generous manner of their 
distribution amply attested the appreciation of the people 
and their memory of the trying days of old. Circumstances 
have contributed to varying interest and attendance at these 
gatherings; some points have been much more easily reached 
than others and certain special features in some places may 
have drawn out an extra large number. 

Possibly no one reunion exceeded in general applause that 
one held in Belchertown, June 21, 1881. Former Drummer- 
boy Myron P. Walker, "C," having the means, had prepared 
a feast for his old friends, along with a host of new ones. Of 
course fellow citizens contributed of funds and time to the 
entertainment, but the great bulk of the outlay was given by 
Comrade Walker. A special train of eight cars brought veterans 
and invited guests from Springfield while a drawing-room 
car was furnished from Boston, bearing Governor John D. 
Long, with a large part of the state government, both executive, 
judicial and legislative. Never did the old town, always 
conspicuous for lavish hospitality, shine forth as it did this 
day. About 700 people gathered at the table, literally heaped 
high with the best that generous men and women could pro- 
vide. The post-prandial exercises were of an unusual character 
also, for not every feast is graced by the presence of the 
Governor of the Commonwealth, and John D. Long, always 
eloquent, was never more so than when he descanted on the 
glories of Belchertown and the merit of the youthful soldier 
who, as a drummer, had reflected so much credit on both town 
and state. The town had been the headquarters of old Com- 
pany D of the Militia Tenth Regiment and, naturally, was 



328 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantrt 

anxious to have the same added to its fellow companies in 
the new volunteer Tenth, but the proffer was too late and the 
men were obliged to enlist in the other organizations of the 
regiment though many of them, including their Drummer-boy, 
Walker, went into Company C of Northampton. The lad 
had taken to his drum as the average lass does to the piano 
and was actually a student of the possibilities of sheepskin 
and drumsticks. Before this, when the Company was drilling 
in Ware, among the spectators, was Count Leo Schwabe> 
the famous German count, who was so much impressed by the 
performance of the juvenile musician that he presented to 
the lad a solid silver cup and spoon, engraved " M. W., Co. D, '' 
the presentation being made by that eloquent lawy^er, after- 
wards Lieut. Colonel of the 31st Regiment, W. S. B. Hopkins. 

At the reunion of 1906, held in Springfield, Myron P. Walker 
delivered a specially appropriate address on the life and ser- 
vices of his former Captain and Lieut. Colonel, Joseph B. 
Parsons, then so recently deceased. The sketch is printed 
in full, on preceding pages. June 21, 1907, at Pittsfield, was 
rendered noteworthy in regimental annals through the dedi- 
cation, there and then, of a marker or memorial to com- 
memorate the distinguished services of General Henry S. 
Briggs, the first commander of the regiment. The address 
of the Hon. F. W. Rockwell ma}- be found earlier in this 
volume. 

Unless otherwise provided, the regular meetings in later 
years have been held in Springfield, this being most easily 
reached by the greatest number of the survivors. That for 
1908 was held in Memorial Hall, Monday, June 22d, where a 
goodly number of the "Old Boys" assembled, visited, and 
partook of a most excellent dinner, provided by the local 
Relief Corps, "E. K. Wilcox," No. 14. The special subject 
for consideration by the veterans was the new history of the 
Regiment, then in progress. 

REGIMENTAL NURSES 

When, in the fall of 1861, typhoid fever was decimating 
the ranks of the Tenth at Brighwood, two ministering angels 



Regimental Nurses 329 

in human form, left their happy northern homes to serve 
these men in camp. Their stay with the regiment was a bless- 
ing from the start and every soldier, whether well or ill, has 
never failed to sing their praises when the names of Mrs. 
Merrick and Miss Wolcott were mentioned. 

Mrs. Anne Sophia Merrick was born in Northampton, 
November 18, 1818, the daughter of Cephas and Sophia. 




Miss Wolcott, Mrs. Merrick. 

REGIMENTAL NURSES. 

(Mann) Clapp and became the wife of Solyman Merrick in 
Northampton, June 13, 1848. Removing to Springfield, they 
were residing there when Mr. Merrick died, Oct. 1, 1852. Mrs. 
Merrick, it will be observed, was a widow when she volunteered 
to minister to the suffering soldiers in Washington. In this 
capacity she continued until, herself stricken with fever, she 
was compelled to return home. Miss Wolcott accompanying 
her. Both of the ladies became honorary members of the 
Regimental Association and were regular attendants at the 
reunions until debarred by death or age. Mrs. Merrick died 
May 2, 1879 and is buried in Springfield. 

Miss Helen Wolcott, daughter of Wm. Frederick and Lois 
(Bryant) Wolcott, was born in Springfield, September 26, 1826, 
her father being a descendant from OHver Wolcott, one of 
Connecticut's Signers of the Declaration of Independence, 
born November 26, 1726. Our Army Nurse lacked just two 



330 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

months of being a century 3^ounger than her distinguished 
ancestor. Her hneage also made her a relative of the late 
Roger Wolcott, Governor of Massachusetts. For many years 
she has resided in Agawam and thence she sends the follow- 
ing letter to J. H. Hendrick: 

"Agawam, Aug. 19, 1908. 
In regard to Mrs. Merrick and myself, nurses in the old 
Tenth Regiment, I could tell you more than I can write. 
It is all very fresh in my mind. The first night we slept on 
the floor of the tent. The next day the carpenter made us 
a very good bedstead. I shall never forget how glad the sick 
men were to see us, as one said, 'Any one in petticoats.' I 
fully recall one from Northampton, who died very soon, his 
parents coming at the very last moment. Mrs. Blair came 
often to see and care for us." 

The Mrs. Blair, referred to was doubtless Mrs. Frank P. 
Blair whose stately home was near. At this writing, the very 
close of 190S, Miss Wolcott continues to reside in Agawam. 



THE TENTH AND HER COLORS 

On the Return of the Regiment 

Hurrah for the flags, battle-stained and worn. 

Which the bold, brave Tenth so nobly hath borne 

Through wearisome marches and many a fight; 

Three cheers for the flags that now greet our sight. 

But three times three for that patriot band 

Who went forth with the flags and their lives in their hand ; 

Throughout our land, from its length to its breadth. 

We'll gratefully honor the "Glorious Tenth." 

Then three cheers for the flags, and nine for the men, 

Let the shout re-echo again and again, 

Let the cannon boom and the drum sound afar — 

For the Tenth and her colors. Hurrah! Hurrah!! 

— By a Chicopee lady 



Regimental Colors 



331 




KEGIMENTAL COLORS. 
Now in Hall of Flags, State House. 1st Sergt. H. M. Converse, (I) and E. B. 
Gates (F), who carried the Flags on the return to the Commonwealth, Dec. 22, 
1865. From a photograph made that day by Black. 



332 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 



REGIMENTAL ROSTER 

To compile the following array of names and data, extra- 
ordinary pains have been taken to secure measurably correct 
results. Not only were the names taken from the corrected 
rolls preserved at the State House, but the same have been 
compared with the report of Adjutant General Wm. Schouler, 
published in 1870; also the Roster as pubHshed in 1875 by 
Capt. J. K. Newell has been utilized, wherever possible; be- 
sides, letters were sent to all surviving members of the regiment 
soliciting such changes and additions as might conduce to 
the value of the proposed volume. The result of all this labor 
appears on the succeeding pages. For better or for worse 
it must stand as the final record of more than twelve hundred 
men who did and dared, many of them dying for what they 
deemed the right. Save the great Book of Books, the Bible, 
nothing in printed form, higher or holier, can exist than the 
record of a regiment that served in preserving the Union and 
in freeing the slave. 

For the sake of brevity, a system of abbreviations obtains 
in the Roster, as well as a stated order, which, once under- 
stood, will enable the reader to follow every name readily; 
thus the family name of the soldier comes first, followed by 
his Christian appellation; then come in order his birthplace, 
age, whether married or single, occupation, residence when en- 
listed, date of enlistment or muster-in; such incidents of his 
military life as properly belong in the record as wounded, 
captured, deserted, killed or died, with final discharge or 
muster-out. If requisite data cannot be found, the space is 
left blank. The following list of abbreviations if carefully 
studied will facilitate the reading of the Roster. 

List of Abbreviations: ab. = absent; b.=born; bur.= 
buried; bvt.= brevet; A. A. G. = Assistant Adjutant General; 
C. H. = Court House; Capt. = Captain; com. = commission ; 
Corp. = corporal; cr. = credited; d. = died or dead; desert. = 
deserted; dis. = discharged; disa. = disability ; en. = enlisted; 
ex. of s. = expiration of service; O. W. D. = Order of the War 
Dept.; k. = killed; M. 0. = mustered out; M. = married; 
M. R. = Muster Roll; Mus. = musician; N. F. R. = no further 
record, N. S. H. = National Soldiers' Home; prom. = pro- 
moted; rep. = reported; res. = resigned; (R)=recruit; re.= 
re-enlisted; S. = single; Sergt. = sergeant; S. H. = Soldiers' 



Field and Staff 333 

Home in Chelsea; Soc. = Society ; S. 0. = Special Order; 
trans. =transfer; V. R. C. = Veteran Reserve Corps; wd.= 
wound or wounded; W. D. = War Department. 

Illustrations: 

Felton, Samuel, Jr., b. Roxbury; 25, S.; carpenter, Belcher- 
town; June 4, '61; served entire enlistment as brigade 
carpenter; M. O. July 1, '64; in 1869, millwright, Wor- 
cester; rep. d. 1904. 

Foster, Wm. A. P. (R), b. Boston; 24, S.; farmer, Whately; 
Sept. 1, '61; wd. arm. May 31, '62, Fair Oaks; wd. May 
5, '64, Wilderness; ab. through wounds at time of trans. 
June 21, '64, 37th Mass. dis.; Dec. 6, '64, ex. of s. 

FIELD AND STAFF 

COLONELS 

Henry S. Briggs, b. Lanesboro; 36, M.; lawyer, Pittsfield; 
June 21, '61; prom. Brigadier General, July 17, '62; wd. 
three times. May 31, '62, Fair Oaks; in various capacities 
served until Dec. 6, '65; elected State Auditor, 1865; he 
held the office the three following years; from 1869 to 
1873, was Judge of the District Court of Central Berk- 
shire, Pittsfield; d. Sept. 23, 1887, Pittsfield; as Cap- 
tain of the Active Guards of Pittsfield, 8th M. V. M., 
he was one of the first in the fray, resigning his Captaincy 
June 10 to organize the Tenth Regiment. For extended 
sketch, see p. 301. 

Henry L. Eustis, b. Feb. 1, 1819, Fort Independence, Boston 
Harbor; 43, M. Harvard Professor, Cambridge; Aug. 
15, '62; prom. Brigadier General, U. S. V. Sept. 12, '63; 
on account of ill health, res. June 27, '64; d. Jan. 11, '85, 
Cambridge. The son of Brig. Gen. Abraham Eustis, 
U. S. A., our second Colonel was born a soldier; his 
father was graduated from Harvard, 1804; himself, 1838, 
a classmate of General Charles Devens, James Russell 
Lowell and W. W. Story, the artist; thence entering 
West Point he was graduated. No. 1, in a class of fifty-six 
members, 1842, being thus associated with subsequent 
Union generals, John Newton, John D. Kurtz, W. S. 
Rosecrans, John Pope, Abner Doubleday, and George 
Sykes; the most distinguished of his classmates, to be- 
come Rebel officers were A. P. Stewart, D. H. Hill, Lafay- 
ette McLaws, Earl Van Dorn, and James Longstreet who 



334 



The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 




1/ 



BRIGADIER GENERAL HENRY LAWRENCE EUSTIS. 
Second Colonel Tenth Massachusetts Infantry. 



Field and Staff 335 

was No. 54 in class rank. His own class position entitled 
Eustis to a place in the Engineer service and in this 
capacity he served in Boston, in the construction of Fort 
Warren and the sea wall at Lovell's Island and other 
fortifications; from 1847 to 1849 he was principal Asst. 
Prof, of Engineering at West Point. Resigning in 1849, 
he came to the new Lawrence Scientific School of Harvard 
and here his subsequent life was spent, save the part 
given to the War of the Rebellion. 

LIEUTENANT COLONELS 

Jefford M. Decker, b. Wiscasset, Me.; 47, M.; hotel-keeper, 
Lawrence; June 21, '61; his skill and ability as drill- 
master were of great service to the Regiment in its earlier 
days; while at Brightwood he was in command of the 
7th Mass. for several months, filling the position with 
credit and satisfaction ; suffering from chronic rheumatic 
attacks, he could not endure the exposures of active ser- 
vice and censequently resigned, July 17, '62; a resident 
of Lawrence, Col. Decker had been at the head of the 
Tenth Regiment Militia, before that having served for 
some time as Captain of a Lawrence Company; in organiz- 
ing the new Tenth he took the second place; subsequent 
to his service in the Tenth, he became First Lieut, and 
Adjutant of the 52d Mass., thus having a nine months' 
experience in the Department of the Gulf; d. Jan. 1, 
1870, Salem. 
Joseph B. Parsons, from Captain Co. C, July 15, '62; in this 
capacitv, Col. Parsons commanded the Regiment after 
the promotion of Col. Eustis, the numbers in the ranks 
being so far below the minimum that an officer of higher 
rank could not be mustered ; though always with his men 
in the thickest of the fray he was not wounded after 
assuming command; M. O. July 1, '64; subsequently to 
the War, he commanded the Second Regiment M. V. M. 
several years; in 1888, he was appointed State Pension 
Agent, holding the position at the time of his death; no 
man held a higher place in the affections of his men than 
their Lieut. Colonel; when Northampton celebrated her 
250th anniversary, she called home, as orator of the 
occasion, Jos. B. Parsons and he gave the address on the 
grounds that had been in his family a quarter of a millen- 
nium ; b. April 29, 1828, he died June 4, 1906 in Winthrop, 



336 The Tenth Massachusetts Inf.vntry 

though his residence had been in Roxbury for some time. 
For a more extended estimate, see p. 307. 

MAJORS 

William R. Marsh, b. Walpole, N. H., Jan. 26, 1828; 33, M.; 
hotel-keeper, Northampton; June 21, '61; had served 
ten years in the Militia, Tenth Regt., rising from Fourth 
Lieut, to the command of Co. C; naturally a prominent 
place fell to his lot in the newly organized regiment; res. 
June 14, '62. 

Ozro Miller, from Co. H, June 15, '62; commanded Regiment 
July 1, '62 and was shot in the neck by a Rebel sharp- 
shooter ; falling into the hands of the enemy he was carried 
to Libby Prison, Richmond, where he died, July 15, '62; 
on the fourteenth of the following September, funeral 
services were held in Shelburne Falls by the united three 
congregations in the Baptist edifice, the eulogy being 
pronounced by the Rev. G. H. Deere; Messrs. Loomis 
and Gray followed in addresses directed more especially 
to the Masonic order and the citizens and soldiers present; 
an adaptation of "The Vacant Chair," then in its first 
year of popularity, was rendered in a most impressive 
manner. The closing paragraph of Mr. Deere's eulogy 
follows : 

"In closing, allow me to say that this loyal man, — who 
was so compassionately mindful of you whose kindred were in 
his care, so considerate of the welfare of his men in camp, so 
pleasantly calm and nobly brave, powerful and controlling in 
battle, and whose heroic death closed so enviable a public 
career, — was, in private life, the blameless son and brother, 
the tender father, the faithful and affectionate husband, the 
industrious and scrupulously honest business man, the public- 
spirited citizen, a man whose intimate friendship was not 
cheaply purchased, but 'the friends he had and their adop- 
tion tried, he grappled them to his soul with hooks of steel.' 
And, touching all the mournful keys of our bereavement, the 
words of God's providence sweep over our bowed souls: 'He 
shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know 
him any more.'" 

Dexter F. Parker, b. Aug. 2, 1828, Boston; 34, M.; mechanic, 
Worcester; Aug. 12, '62; wd. May 12, '64, Spottsylvania ; 
a Minie ball hit and shattered his right arm, eight davs 



Field and Staff 337 

later amputation was necessary, and he did not rally from 
the shock, dying May 30, '64; his remains were sent home 
to Worcester where a public funeral was accorded him, 
the services being held in the First Unitarian Church of 
which he was a member; addresses were given by the 
Pastor, Dr. Alonzo Hill and Dr. M. Richardson of the 
Salem Street Congregational Church; the burial was in 
Rural Cemetery; early orphaned, the subsequent officer 
by perseverance and diligence soon demonstrated the 
possibilities of American living; at fourteen he was self- 
supporting and, besides, able to pay his own way through 
several terms of academy study; from 1850 onward, he 
was a citizen of Worcester, during the earlier years a work- 
man in a boot-shop; a studious reader, an ardent advo- 
cate of all reformatory measures, eloquent and ready in 
speech, he soon became a prominent figure in local affairs; 
of strong literary tastes, he was a contributor to Hunt's 
Merchants' Magazine and in 1856 was elected to the lower 
branch of the Legislature, returning there in 1858 also; 
in 1859 and 1860 he represented the city in the Senate and 
1861 found him again in the House; the firing upon 
Sumter found the man ready who, as a boy, had failed in 
his efforts to enhst for the Mexican War; joining the 
Light Infantry, Sixth Regt., in Washington, he was later 
promoted Fourth Lieut.; from subsequent Quartermas- 
ter and Staff" service he was advanced to his final position 
in the Tenth. 

ADJUTANTS AND ACTING ADJUTANTS 

Oliver Edwards, b. Jan. 30, 1835, Springfield; 26, S. ; machinist, 
Springfield; June 21, '61; while the Regiment was at 
Brightwood, he served as senior Aid-de-camp on the staff 
of General Darius Couch and continued in this capacity 
until Aug. 9, '62, when he was commissioned Major of 
the 37th Mass., then organizing in Pittsfield; Aug. 27, '62 
he was prom. Colonel, serving with great distinction to the 
end of the War; bvt. Brig. Gen., Oct. 19, '64; Brig. 
Gen., May 19, '65; and bvt. Major Gen., April 5, '65; 
M. O. Jan. 15, '66; following the War, was for several 
vears postmaster at Warsaw, 111.; in 1875, resided in 
Florence, Supt. Florence Sewing Machine Co.; owing to 
his wife's ill health, he soon left Florence and, for a time, 
was Supt. of a gun factory in England, but later went 
back to Warsaw where he remained until his death. 



338 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

April 28, 1904 ; few citizen soldiers from any state merited 
or won greater recognition than Adjutant Edwards; to 
him Mayor Town of Petersburg surrendered that city and 
his brilliant services at Opequon won for him his brevet 
Brigadier Generalship. 
Hiram A. Keith; during the time Adj. Edwards was serving 
on the staff of General Couch, for the most part, his 
duties in the Tenth were preformed by Lieut. Keith of 
Company F. 

Flavel Shurtleff of Co. A, was Acting Adjutant during October 
and November, 1862. 

Charles H. Brewster, Co. C, assumed the adjutancy, Dec. 21, 
'62 and retained the same to the end of the Regiment's 
service; though exposed to all the dangers of the cam- 
paigns he was so fortunate as to escape unscathed; M. O. 
July 1, '64; from July to Nov. '64, on recruiting service, 
Norfolk, Va., with rank of Captain and A. A. G. ; bvt. 
Major, Mar. 13, '65; in 1875, Northampton; d. suddenly, 
New York City, Oct. 7, 1893. 

QUARTERMASTERS 

John W. Rowland; 43, M.; hotel-keeper, Pittsfield; June 
21, '61; res. Sept. 29, '62, to be commissioned Captain, 
Assistant Quartermaster, U. S. Vols., Sept. 30, '62; in 
1873, resided near Great Bamngton. 

Charles Wheeler, Co. D, having declined a Captain's commis- 
sion, followed Lieut. Rowland and continued till his resig- 
nation, Dec. 20, '62; in the fall of 1863 agent of paper 
warehouse, Chicago; vide Co. D. 

Allen S. Mansir, Co. A, served from Dec. 21, '62, until his M. O. 
July 1, '64; in 1875, keeping a meat market and holding 
the ofhce of deputy sheriff, Pittsfield; d. Gt. Barrington. 

SURGEONS 

Cyrus N. Chamberlain, b. West Barnstable; 30, S.; physician, 
Northampton; June 21, '61; as an expression of the good 
will of fellow citizens the surgeon carried away with him 
from his city, a surgeon's sword and sash with a brace of 
Smith and Wesson's revolvers; dis. April 13, '63 to be ap- 
pointed Surgeon of Volunteers; was in continuous and 
active service in the field until Aug. 1, '64, save the winter 
of '63 and '64, when he was in Philadelphia at work; in 



Field and Staff 



339 




Surg. G N. Chamberlain, 
Ass't. Surg. Wm. Holbrook, 



Surg. A. B. Robinson, 
FIELD AND STAFF. 



Chap. F. B. Perlcins, 
Adj't. Oliver Edwards. 



Aug. '64 he was ordered to Worcester to organize the 
Dale U. S. Gen'l Hosp., continuing there till his M. O. 
Oct. 7, '65; bvt. Lieut. Colonel, U. S. Volunteers, Oct. 
6, '65; 'in 1875, physician and surgeon, Lawrence; d. 1900. 
Albert B. Robinson; May 15, '63; M. O. July 1, '64; later 
surgeon, 42d Mass., 100 days' service; M. 0. Nov. 11, '64; 
in 1875, physician, Boston Highlands; was prominent 
in medical, Masonic and Grand Army circles; d. Mar. 
29, 1908, Roxbury, aged 73 years; bur. Holden. 

ASSISTANT SURGEONS 

WilHam Holbrook, b. Sturbridge; 38, M.; physician. Palmer; 
June 21, '61; prom. Surgeon, 18th Mass., Jan. 13, 62; 
was Surgeon-in-Chief, First Brig., First Div., Fifth Corps; 



340 Th?: Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

M. O. Sept. 2, '64; in 1875, Palmer, where he had prac- 
ticed medicine twenty-six years, except as he was absent 
during the war; dead. 

Albert B. Robinson, b. Pelham; 28, M.; physician, Holden; 
Aug. 9, '62; prom. Surgeon; Dr. Robinson was born 
April 12, 1835; studied at Monson Academy and was 
graduated M.D. from the Buffalo University, Feb. 27, 
1857; practiced first in Amherst, next, Holden, where 
the war found him. 

George Jewett, b. Ridge, N. H., April 28, 1825; physician, 
Fitchburg; Jan. 21, '62; prom. Surgeon, 51st Mass., 
Nov. 4, '62; M. O. July 27, '63; in 1875, physician, 
Fitchburg; d. Dec. 16, 1894. 

John H. Oilman, b. Sangerville, Me., Feb. 24, 1836; physician, 
Lowell; Mar. 18, '63; educated at public schools and 
PhiUips-Andover; M.D., Harvard, 1863; had served in 
the Sanitarv Commission gratuitously in the campaigns 
of McClellan and Pope; M. O. July 1^ '64; later, entered 
the service as Acting Asst. Surg., U. S. Army, remaining 
until the end of the war; in 1869 and 1870 was City 
Physician, Lowell; d. 1890. 

CHAPLAINS 

Frederick A. Barton, b. Chester, Vt.; 52, M.; clergyman, 
Springfield; June 21, '61; a pastor in Indian Orchard, 
he had been especially outspoken in his sentiments con- 
cerning the duties of the hour, and early set about raising 
a Hampden County Regiment, two Companies of which 
were enlisted and were encamped on the Park ; the accept- 
ance of the Tenth Regt. Militia changed the course of 
events, one of the Companies going into the Tenth under 
his son, as Captain, the other, raised by Ohver Edwards, 
being divided up among the other companies, he himself 
becoming Chaplain of the Regiment; res. May 1, '62; 
a graduate of Dartmouth, Class of '31, he lived in Boston, 
1880; d. 1881; the chaplain's military training was rec'd 
at the Military School, Norwich, Vt., class of 1826. 

Adoniram J. Bingham, pastor of the Central Baptist Church, 
Westfield, was commissioned Aug. 13, '62; his infirm 
health would not admit of his long stay in the service; 
res. Jan. 16, '63. 

Francis B. Perkins, b. Boston, Aug. 7, 1833; clergyman, 
Montague; Oct. 23, '63; M. O. July 1, '64; graduated 



NON-COMMISSIONED StAFP 341 

Williams College, 1854, later Andover Theological Semi- 
nary; his pastorates in the Congregational church were 
on both coasts of the Continent; in the East he was in 
Montague, Jamaica Plain, and Stockbridge; in California, 
Sonoma, at Grass Valley, San Diego, and San Lorenzo; 
in other capacities, he was Dist. Sec. American Tract Soc, 
Boston; Supt. American Home Missionary Soc. in Colo- 
rado; in 1890, Chaplain, Ninth Regt., National Guard of 
California; from 1895, his home was in Oakland, Cal., 
where he died, Nov. 14, 1906. 

NON-COMMISSIONED STAFF 

SERGEANT MAJORS 

Edward Kirk Wilcox, b. Springfield; 19, S.; bookkeeper, 
Springfield; June 21, '61; a member of the Class of '62, 
Williams College, he was temporarily at home when the 
war began; enlisting at once, he was elected Second 
Lieut, of Oliver Edwards' Company and, when that body of 
men was broken up, he became the Sergeant Major of the 
Regiment ; he accompanied the Regiment to Washington 
where he was dis. Oct. 2, '61 for com. as First Lieut, in the 
27th Mass.; prom. Captain, Feb. 13, '62; he was killed at 
Cold Harbor, June 2, '64; quite the ideal soldier, he per- 
formed much staff duty and was serving thus with General 
Stannard when, bearing despatches across the field, he saw 
his own regiment charging upon an earthwork; respond- 
ing to their gallant cheer, he sprang to their head and, 
sword in hand, leaped upon the work, only to fall the next 
moment riddled with bullets; his soldierly form and 
features stand out in an oil painting, possessed by E. K. 
Wilcox Post, No. 16, of Springfield, ever an inspiration to 
the comrades, while his Alma Mater, "Williams," in 1869, 
recognizing his signal merit, added his name to the roll 
of the Class of 1862 as a regular graduate. 

Elihu B. Whittlesey, from Q. M. Sergt.; Oct. 21, '61; prom. 
Second Lieut., June 1, '62; Co. D. 

Edwin B. Bartlett, from Co. F; July 1, '62; prom. Second 
Lieut., Sept. 29, '62, Co. B. 

Moses W. Evans, from Co. K; Oct. 10, '62; dis. Feb. 7, '63, 
disa.; dead. 

George F. Policy, from Co. C; Feb. 9, '63; re. Dec. 22, '63; 
prom. First Lieut. May 6, '64; it does not appear that 



342 



The Tenth Massachusetts Ixfantry 



he was assigned to any company in the Tenth, a transfer 
to the 55th Mass. being in transit when he was killed, June 
20, '64, in front of Petersburg. 




SERGT. MAJOR R. W. BOWLES. 

Roslin W. Bowles, from Co. E ; June 24, '64; M. O. July 1, '64; 
in 1875 in oyster trade, Norfolk, Va.; was the War 
Correspondent of the Springfield Republican during the 
entire service and many of his items have found perma- 
nent lodgement in this volume. 

QUARTERMASTER SERGEANTS 

Elihu B. Whittlesey, b. New York City; 20, S.; bookkeeper, 
Pittsfield; June 21, '61; prom. Sergt. Major, Oct. 21, '61. 

Edward H. Graves, from Co. C; Oct. — , '61; prom. Second 
Lieut., Nov. 3, '62; Co. C. 

William B. Allen, from Co. C; Nov. 3, '62; re. Jan. 20, '64; 
prom. First Lieut., June 21, '64, and trans, to 37th Mass., 
whence he was discharged as supernumerary ; not assigned 
to any company; 1908, New Haven, Conn. 

commissary SERGEANTS 

Frank J. Childs, b. Becket; 25, M.; machinist, Chester; 
June 21, '61; dis. June 18, '62, disa.; in 1875, resided in 
Chester. 



Regimental Band 343 

"William F. Darby, from Co. B; June 19, '62; prom. Second 
Lieut., Nov. 26, '62; Co. I. 

Andrew T. Huntington, from Co. F; dates as to term of ser- 
vice wanting but it would seem that it covered the time 
between Darby and Barber; trans, to U. S. A. as Hosp. 
Steward, April 18, '64. 

Hubert L. Barber, from Co. A; March 1, '64; M. O. July 1, '64. 

HOSPITAL STEWARDS 

Charles C. Wells, b. Port Gibson, Miss.; 21, S.; clerk, North- 
ampton; dis. Oct. 17, '62, disa. 

Jonathan D. Warner, from Co. C; Oct. 10, '62; re. Dec. 21, 
'63; Trans. June 20, '64, 37th Mass.; dis. as Hosp. 
Steward, Tenth Regt., Nov. 16, '64; in 1872, resided 
Hatfield; dead. 

PRINCIPAL MUSICIANS 

John L. Gaffney, b. Ireland; 38, — .; , Springfield; 

June 21, '61 ; dis. April 30, '62, disa. ; later came back into 
the Brigade as Drum Major, 37th Mass., and remained 
until the M. O. June 21, '65; in 1872, Haydenville; dead. 

William M. Kingsley, from Co. C; June 2, '63; M. 0. July 1, 
'64; dead. 

Charles A. Gilmore, from Co. A; June 5, '63; M. 0. July 1, '64; 
manifestly there is an absurdity in there being two princi- 
pal musicians at practically the same time, and Newell 
names William Hazlett of B and George Burnham of I 
besides, though with no dates; Schouler in his Record of 
Mass. Vols, gives Gilmore and Kingsley only; both 
Burnham and Gilmore dead. 

REGIMENTAL BAND 

At the beginning of the War, brass bands were considered 
•essential parts of every regiment, particularly those from 
Massachusetts, and the Tenth was so fortunate as to secure 
the services of Hodge's Band of North Adams, one of the most 
noted in the western portion of the Commonwealth. Com- 
posed of well disposed, happily constituted men, the band 
rendered excellent service during the little more than one year 
of its continuance with the Regiment. When the General 
Order, No. 78, was issued, August, 1862, mustering out all 
such organizations, the band and the men had to part company, 



344 The Tenth Massachustets Infantry 

to the common sorrow of all. The musicians were M. 0., 
Aug. 11, '62, at Harrison's Landing, and at once set out for 
home, reaching North Adams, Aug. 16, '62. In the winter of 
1863-64, when the Brigade of General Eustis in which the 
Tenth was serving, was encamped at Brandy Station, the 
band was reorganized under the leadership of Burdick A. 
Stewart and Feb. 4, '64, again went to the front as the band 
of Eustis 's Brigade. Unfortunately, shortly after reaching 
Brandy Station, Leader Stewart died, Feb. 1864, and was 
succeeded by John D. Worth. Eustis's Brigade was fourth in 
the Second Division of the Sixth Army Corps. The brigade 
band was wherever the Sixth Corps went; at the battle of 
the Wilderness they were ordered from the extreme front to 
assist the surgeons at the division hospital. In all the hard 
fought battles of the Army of the Potomac, from the Wilder- 
ness to Petersburg, in the time of battle the band assisted the 
surgeons, but on the march they accompanied their Brigade 
and were quartered at brigade headquarters. In the summer 
of 1864 the most of the Brigade being discharged, through 
expiration of service, the balance of the Brigade was merged 
with the Second and, during the Shenandoah campaign, Sept. 
19, 1864, the two brigade bands were united and the excess 
of members discharged. 

Hodge, William D., (leader) b. North -Adams; 39, M.; musi- 
cian. North Adams; June 21, '61; M. O. Aug. 11, '62; for 
nine years after the War he played in different circus 
bands, but his later years were devoted to the keeping of 
a music and jewelry store in North Adams where he died, 
Feb. 5, 1908, aged 86 years. 

Chase, Edward A.; 19, S.; mechanic. North Adams; June 
21. '61; d. Brightwood, D. C, Sept. 25, '61; bur. North 
Adams. 

Clark, Francis L., b. North Adams; 23, S.; shoemaker. North 
Adams; June 21, '61; M. O. Aug. 11, '62; re. Julv 26, 
Co. E, 3d Mass. Heavy Artillery; dis. Dec. 12, '64, disa.; 
in 1872, boot and shoe dealer, North Adams; d. Jan. 
4, 1876. 

Davis, Alvah S.; 50, M.; shoemaker, Springfield ; June21,'61; 
dis. Nov. 29, '61 ; returned to Springfield and died soon 
after. 

Hall, Merritt H.; 17, S.; farmer, North Adams; June 21, '61; 
M. O. Aug. 11, '62; d. Dec. 25, 1892. 



Regimextal Band 



345 



Hamilton, Frederick R. ; 20, S.; shoemaker, North Adams; 
June 21, '61; M. O. Aug. 11, '62; later in the band of 
Second Brigade; 1904, Bath, N. Y. 




WM. D. HODGE, 



II. A. TOWER. 



Haskins, Wm. E.; 28, M.; shoemaker. North Adams; June 
21, '61; M. O. Aug. 11, '62; re. Dec. 14, '63, Co. K, 
34th Mass.; trans. June 16, '65, 24th Mass.; M. O. Jan. 
20, '66; in 1872, resided in North Adams; d. May 12, 1904. 

Hodge, Ambrose W., b. Noi-th Adams; 22, — . ; , Spring- 
field; June 21, '61; M. O. Aug. 11, '62; in 1872, manu- 
facturer. North Adams; d. Feb. 4, 1891. 

Hubbard, Wallace A.; en. Northampton; June 21, '61; dis. 
April 30, '62, disa. 

Ingraham, Albert K., b. Williamstown ; 34, M.; shoemaker, 
North Adams; June 21, '61; wd. left shoulder, May 31, 
'62, Fair Oaks; M. O. Aug. 11, '62; in 1872, painter, 
North Adams; d. March 10, 1905. 

King, Charles B., 29, M. ; butcher, North Adams; June 21, '61 ; 
M. O. Aug. 11, '62; in 1872, North Adams; later. Second 
Brigade Band; d. Northampton Asylum about 1888. 

Lewis, Frank; 24, M.; clerk. North Adams; June 21, '61; 
M. O. Aug. 11, '62; in 1872, North Adams; d. 1879. 

Luther, Daniel; 35, M.; shoemaker. North Adams; June 21, 
'61; M. O. Aug. 11, '62; later Fourth Brigade Band; in 
1872, North Adams; d. Nov. 21, 1903, S. H., Chelsea. 

Powers, Lawson S.; vide Co. H. 



'346 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

Ray, Addison J.; 40, — .; , Springfield; June 21, '61; 

dis. as "Wray," O. W. D., Feb. 15, '62; in 1872, North 
Adams; d. Jan. 6, 1906, Jaynesville, Wis. 

Robinson, Henry S., b. South Hadley Falls; 18, S.; , 

Springfield; June 21, '61; M. O. Aug. 11, '62; later, Co. 
E, 4th Mass. Cav. serving in the band; in 1869, hotel- 
keeper, Springfield, where he died, 1870. 

Stewart, Burdick A.; 24, M.; engraver, Adams ; June 21, '61; 
M. O. Aug. 11, '62; in Jan. 1864, reorganized the old 
band, adding new men where necessary, and reported to 
the Brigade which included the Tenth; within a few 
hours after his arrival at Brandy Station, he suddenly 
died; Chaplain Perkins of the Tenth conducted his 
funeral services; the body, embalmed, was sent home to 
Adams for burial. 

Stewart, Edward W., b. North Adams; 24, M.; painter, 
Adams; June 21, '61; M. O. Aug. 11, '62; later served 
in Band, Fourth Brig., Second Div., 6th A. C; in 1873, 
painter. North Adams; d. Sept. 1, 1906. 

Stewart, Henry C, b. North Adams; 24, M. ; engraver, Adams. 
June 21, '61; M. O. Aug. 11, '62; later was in Eustis's 
Brigade Band; in 1873, glove stitcher. North Bennington, 
d. Aug. 18, 1884. 

Stewart, Jacob V., b. White Creek, N. Y.; 34, M.; carpenter, 
Adams; June 21, '61; dis. July 19, '62, disa.; in 1873, 
paper-hanger and painter. North Adams; d. Sept. 
29, 1879. 

Tower, Henry A., b. Florida; 21, M.; butcher. North Adams; 
June 21, '61; M. O. Aug. 11, '62; a few months after his 
return, was drafted, but rather than go as a conscript, he 
paid his exemption fee; in the fall of 1863, enlisted in the 
Fourth Brigade Band and so followed the fortunes of the 
Sixth Corps from the Rapidan to Petersburg and thence 
to the Shenandoah Valley ; after Winchester, on a partial 
reorganization of the Army, he was discharged O. W. D. 
and returned to North Adams where he has continued to 
reside; has served on the Board of Selectmen, has been 
Highway Commissioner and, for the past six years, has 
been inspector of meats and provisions; has never been 
sick a week in his life and, in 1908, is one of the four 
survivors of the twenty-four men who served in the Band 
of the Tenth Regiment. 



Company A 347 

Viall, Wm. G., b. Grafton; 24, S.; shoemaker, Adams; June 
21, '61; M. O. Aug. 11, '62; later in Fourth Brigade Band; 
in 1908, Supt. shoe factory. North Adams. 

Wheeler, Addison G., b. Savoy; 20, M.; shoemaker, Adams; 
June 21, '61; M. O. Aug. 11, '62; later, in Fourth Brigade 
Band; dis. Sept. 19, '64; in 1873, North Adams, keeping 
a meat market; 1908, Windsor. 

Worth, John D., b. Bavaria; 33, M.; cabinet maker, Adams;. 
June 21, '61; dis. July 19, '62, disa.; later, re. as leader 
of the Band, Third Brig., Second Div., 6th Corps; in 
1873, foreman, pattern department, Walter A. Wood 
Machine Co., Hoosick Falls, N. Y.; Newell gives "Winth;" 
d. Jan 1, 1888. 

COMPANY A, GREAT BARRINGTON. 

Southern Berkshire was early alive to the impending struggle 
and Governor x\ndrew, himself, in sending his Military 
Secretary, Col. A. G. Browne, Jr., to the Governors of the 
several New England States was hardly more alert than 
were these farmers, mechanics and professional men of the 
southwestern part of the Commonwealth. Newspapers were 
read with the utmost interest, every possible place of public 
assembly was thronged and the Red, White and Blue was 
in evidence as never before. Sunday, April 21st, a Great Bar- 
rington clergyman, the Rev. Horace Winslow, in the midst 
of his afternoon discourse, confessed that his mind was not on 
the sermon he was reading and, dropping that, launched out 
into a strain of impassioned eloquence on the needs of the 
hour. 

The next evening there was a large gathering before the 
Berkshire House and speeches were made from the balcony 
by George R. Ives, Esq., and others, urging all to be ready 
to help the country's cause. Wednesday evening, the 24th, 
citizens of Great Barrington and nearby towns assembled in 
the town hall, irrespective of political parties, and debated 
the popular needs and the best way to meet them. The meet- 
ing was presided over by David Leavitt who proclaimed 
himself willing to contribute his means and, if necessary, his 
person, to the holy cause. The Hon. Increase Sumner, 
Chairman of Committee on Resolutions, presented a set ofthe 
same, of a most patriotic character and supported them in a 
forcible speech, urging all patriots to be up and doing. In a 
similar vein eloquent speeches were made by several others;.. 



348 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

the South Egremont band furnished music and the Star 
Spangled Banner was rendered in an inspiring manner. 
A committee of thirteen was appointed to carry out the pur- 
pose of the third resolution, viz, the raising of a company and 
the securing of funds to equip the company and to care for 
families thus left needy. Papers were at once presented and 
volunteers began to put down their names amid the applause 
of the great audience. The President of the meeting headed 
the subscription with one of a thousand dollars and the sum 
soon amounted to nearly four thousand dollars. As the 
recruits were added from day to day, they were quartered 
in Agricultural Hall, under the charge of Ralph O. Ives. 

By Sunday, May 5th, the company had grown to seventy 
members and on this day, the Rev. Mr. Winslow gave a 
patriotic sermon in the barracks, all present joining in the 
doxology at closing. On the 7th, the ladies of the town 
gathered in the Congregational church to take action towards 
supplying the wants of volunteers. Monday, the 13th, came 
an important meeting in the barracks when the men effected 
an organization electing as their Captain, Ralph O. Ives; 
First Lieut., J. L. Bacon; Second, Henry L. Wilcox; Third, 
A. S. Mansir; Fourth, F. M. Ives. The following Sunday, 
the 19th, the company, in a new uniform of gray, trimmed 
with black, marched to the Congregational church and heard 
the Rev. Mr. Winslow in a most stirring and profitable dis- 
course. The grave and the gay of life are inextricably blended, 
for on the 27th there was a hop at the company quarters 
where Great Barrington and the neighboring towns had 
gathered "her beauty and her chivalry," though the most 
of the fair partners of the soldier boys were from the factories 
where had been woven the cloth whence came the uniforms 
of the company. Amid the beautiful decorations of evergreen 
and flags, with music by Curtis's band, the night quickly sped 
into the wee small hours. 

Tuesday, May 28th, is ever memorable in the company annals 
for then a citizen of Great Barrington presented the bovs 
with a stand of colors, emblematic of her regard, and sig- 
nificant of the new life about to be essayed. The first act of 
the day, however, was to arrange the list of lieutenants, 
since the government did not allow more than two. The new 
election resulted in the retention of the Lieutenants at first 
selected, though not without opposition. The local Bible 
Society gave each man a Testament and each mess or group 
of men a Bible, the Rev. Mr. Richards making the presenta- 



Co3HPANY A 349 

tions, followed briefly by the Rev. Mr. Winslow. Then came 
gifts of cash to some of the men by generous citizens, Sheffield 
giving five dollars apiece to her twelve representatives in the 
company and promising them nine dollars a month in addition 
to government pay. The Egremont men, six in number, 
fared equally well. Michael Finn of West Stockbridge 
received five dollars in money and a fine Colt's revolver. 
Then followed the march to the home of Mrs. Artemas Bige- 
low who was to present the flag. Twenty-four citizens, 
mounted and led by David Leavitt, Esq., escorted the com- 
pany to the residence where a multitude of people had 
assembled by a platform, erected near the house. The 
presentation was made by Samuel B. Sumner, Esq., in a 
particularly eloquent manner, touching upon the obligations 
of the men to defend the emblem and referring most aptly 
to the recent death of Col. Ellsworth (N. Y. Fire Zouaves) 
in Alexandria, exhorting the soldiers to "stand gallantly by 
the colors thus confided to your keeping." The response of 
Captain Ives, in accepting the flag, was brief but eftective, 
arousing emotion in many listeners. The banner itself was 
a fine piece of silken texture, six feet by three, bordered by a 
golden fringe. The staff bore a silver plate, properly engraved, 
topped with a golden ball and the American eagle, with 
bullion tassels pendent. 

Later all of the soldiers proceeded to the Collins House to 
partake of a bountiful collation, and thence, under the escort 
of Dr. Collins marched to Mount Petra for still further exer- 
cises of a patriotic nature. There the oath of fealty was 
administered by Dr. Collins; all kneeling kissed the folds of 
the flag and afterwards heard some inspiring words from 
Sergt. D. J. Bishop, who later was to be the regimental color- 
bearer for manv a month. A cannon having been procured 
and the flag run up to the top of the pole, a salute was fired 
from the elevated height and then faces were again turned 
towards the hotel where Dr. Collins once more served the 
company with an excellent repast. At half past seven, when 
the men were comfortably seated, the generous host, rising 
in his place at the head of the table, bade his guests help them- 
selves to the limit of each one's taste and inclination, an 
invitation which was immediately accepted to the evident 
satisfaction of the eaters and of the liberal giver. Dr. Collins 
instead of speaking for himself requested the Hon. Samuel 
B. Sumner to take his place which he did, though not before 
the men had cheered to the echo, their host and his substitute. 



350 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

The latter 's remarks were witty, appropriate, and most 
heartily received. After him came his brother, Charles A. 
Sumner from California, who fully sustained the reputation 
of the family in the appositeness of his remarks and his. 
evident devotion to the cause of liberty and union. At the 
end of his address, the boys gave him three cheers and a tiger. 
Captain Ives was called up by the host of the evening, and 
he pledged himself to do all in his power to promote the 
comfort of his men, and to make them efficient soldiers. 
A song was then sung by Michael Finn, and Thomas Pugh 
followed with "The Sword of Bunker Hill" in fine voice and 
spirit. The health of Mrs. Bigelow, the donor of the flag,, 
was drank by the Company with three times three cheers at 
the mention of her name. The father of the Captain of the 
Company, Mr. George R. Ives, spoke pertinently, denouncing 
the Rebellion and proclaiming his admiration for the company 
itself. The evening's exercises ended at 9.30 when the soldiers 
marched back to their barracks, led by the South Egremont 
band which had arrived late, but in time for a supper from 
Dr. Collins. 

May 29th witnessed the departure of the company. At 
10.30 a. m., the men were drawn up on the corner of Main 
and Railroad Streets. Cheers were given by both soldiers 
and citizens, and then, escorted by the South Egremont 
band and a company of horsemen, the men in uniform marched 
away, accompanied by their friends as far as Monterey, 
which they entered with flag flying and drums beating. They 
were hospitably received and feasted and at 4.00 p. m., after 
a halt of two hours, they started for Otis Center, not afoot, 
as they came, but in vehicles which the generous people of 
Monterey provided for this purpose. May 30th, the march was 
continued towards Westfield, at whose four-mile house they 
were met by a company of fifty horsemen under the command 
of Colonel Asa Barr and escorted into the village to be received 
by a large and enthusiastic crowd of people. Thursday night 
was spent in Foster's hotel. The local News Letter accorded 
to the men unstinted praise for their character and appear- 
ance. Friday, the last day of May saw the company safely 
in Springfield where they were met by the Horse Guards and 
two companies, already in camp, and escorted to Hampden 
Park. After their march of sixty miles, their parade through 
the streets of Springfield was highly complimented. At the 
Park they were welcomed by the Rev. F. A. Barton, later to 
be the regimental chaplain, to whose words Captain Ives 



Company A 351 

responded. The men, seventy-nine in number were quartered 
in a building to the south of the large hall. 

Tuesday, June 4th, the Company was photographed by 
Messrs. Moore Brothers who gave to each man a photo of 
Jeff. Davis that they might be able to recognize him on sight. 
Monday, June 10th, two men were drummed out of camp as 
deserters. Both were from Connecticut and, having left the 
week before, had been caught in Otis and brought back by 
the Captain on Sunday. With closely shaven heads, their 
arms pinioned, stripped of their uniforms, to the tune of 
"Rogue's March" they were escorted off the grounds and 
permitted to depart. June 12th, each member of the Company 
received a dollar as spending money from some generous 
citizen of Great Barrington. June 21st, came the muster-in 
and the Company is henceforth to be known as "A" of the 
Tenth Regiment, Mass. Volunteers. 

(For full explanation of abbreviations, see page 332.) 
COMMISSIONED OFFICERS 

CAPTAINS 

Ralph O. Ives, b. New York City; 22, M.; attorney, Great 
Barrington; June 14, '61; in winter of '62-'63, served on 
staff of General Wm. H. Emory, in Louisiana; in Sept. 
'63, while brigade officer of the day, was captured by 
guerrillas and sent to Libby prison, Richmond; dis. Sept. 
19, '64; in 1873, broker in Cal.; since d. 

Willard I. Bishop, Sept. 23, '63; wd. eve, Wilderness, '64; 
M. O. July 1, '64; bvt. Major, March 13, '65; in 1875, 
Agent, Conn. River R. R., Hatfield. 

FIRST LIEUTENANTS 

James M. Bacon, b. Great Barrington; 33, —; printer, Great 
Barrington; June 21, '61; dis. Dec. 4, '61, disa; d. before 
1870. 

Flavel Shurtleff, (C); Dec. 5, '61; wd. right breast, Malvern 
Hill; Adjutant, Oct. '62; prom. Captain, Co. H. 

Willard I. Bishop, (C), Sept. 29, '62; prom. Captain. 

Henry A. Brown, (K), Jan. 25, '63; detailed Act. Ass't. Adj't. 
Gen'l., head-quarters, Second Brig., Third Div., Sixth 
Armv Corps; detailed, Mav 16, '64, Act. Aide, Fourth 



352 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

Brig., First Div., Sixth Corps; M. O. Julv 1, '64; bvt. 
Captain, Mar. 13, '65; in 1909, Delta, Ohio. 

SECOND LIEUTENANTS 

Henry L. Wilcox, b. Sheffield; 39, M.; carpenter, Great 
Barrington; res. Oct. 7, '61; later served as private in 
57th Mass.; d. Aug. 13, '74, Housatonic. 

Allen S. Mansir, Oct. 7, '61; prom. First Lieut., June 21, '62, 
Co. H. 

James Knox, June 1, '62; dismissed, Nov. 25, '62; disa. 
owing to dismissal removed, vide, letter W. D., Feb. 15, 
1871; k. in paper-mill. West Springfield, Nov. 21, 1876. 

Nelson H. Gardner, (K), Sept. 29, '62; prom. First Lieut., 
Co. G. 

Charles H. Knapp, (I), Nov. 26, '62; June 1, '64, trans, to 
Command of Co. C and as such M. O. July 1, '64; bvt. 
First Lieut, and Captain, Mar. 13, '65; in 1909, and for 
nearly forty years, engineer. Fire Dept., Holyoke. 

NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS AND PRIVATES 

Andrews, Robert K., b. Sheffield; 35, M.; mason, Sheffield 
June 14, '61; dis. July 17, '61, disa. 

Ashman, John, b. Sharon, Conn.; 26, S.; collier, Sharon 
June 14, '61, cr. Agawam; re. Dec. 21, '63; trans. 37th 
Mass., June 20, '64; trans. 20th Mass., June 21, '65 
M. 0. July 16, '65; later served in regular army. Also 
Ashmun. 

Banker, Henry, ; 23, M.; collier, ; June 21, '61; 

d. of wounds. May 3, '62, Salem Heights. 
Barber, George A., (Corp.), b. Butternuts, N. Y.; 23, S.; 

carpenter. New Marlboro; April 25, '61; wd. left leg, 

May 3, '63, Salem Heights; dis. April 25, '64, disa.; 

after the war, carpenter, Winsted, Conn. 
Barber, Hubert L., b. New Marlboro; 22, S.; collier, New 

Marlboro; May 1, '61; Corp. Mav 17, '62; Sergt. Julv 1 

'63; Com. Sergt. Mar. 1, '64; M. O. July 1, '64; later 

farmer, Southfield. 
Bartholomew, Martin, b. Sheffield; 21, S.; collier, Sheffield 

June 21, '61; dis. Jan. 22, '64, disa. 
Bazzell, Varnum, (Corp.), b. Lee; 28, M.; June 21, '61 



Company A 353 

Sergt. May 31, '62; M. O. July 1, '64; d. May 4, '69; 
bur. Center Cem., Lee; State rolls give "Buzzell." 

Beach, Melanchton B., (Sergt.), b. West Bloomfield, N. Y.; 
28, S.; weaver, Great Barrington; June 21, '61; wd. left 
ankle, July 1, '62, Malvern Hill; wd. left forearm, May 
5, '64, Wilderness; M. O. July 1, '64; later, foreman, 
West Meriden, Conn. 

Bishop, Daniel J., (Sergt.), b. Cooperstown, N. Y.; 34, M.; 
peddler. Great Barrington; June 21, '61; was color- 
sergt. for some time; M. O. July 1, '64; d. after the war 
in Pa. 

Blakesley, Charles, b. New Hartford, Conn.; 24, M.; collier, 
Tyringham; June 21, '61; re. cr. Agawam, Dec. 31, '63; 
trans. 37th Mass., June 20, '64; k. April 6, '65, Sailors 
Creek, Va. 

Briner, Hiram, (R), dis. Jan. 8, '63, disa.; hosp. N. F. R. 

Bristol, Waterman D., ; 20, S.; clerk. West Stock- 
bridge; June 21, '61; M. O. July 1, '64; 1909, Westfield. 

Cadv, Henrv, b. Lee; 20, S.; baker, Lee; June 21, '61; M. O. 
'July 1,''64; in 1872, living in New Milford, Conn. 

Cahill, James, b. Greenfield; 19, S.; shoemaker, Greenfield; 
June 14, '61; wd. May 3, '62, Salem Heights; dis. May 
19, '64, disa. 

Caldwell, Noah N., b. Schenectady, N. Y.; 24, S.; mechanic, 
Springfield; June 14, '61; wd. June 4, '64; M. O. July 1, 
'64; in 1907, N. S. H., Togus, Me.; also Noah L. 

Cardney, Frank, b. Olive, N. Y.; 21, S.; collier, Sheffield; 
June 21, '61; re. cr. Agawam, Dec. 21, '63; k. May 12, 
'64, Spottsylvania. Also Cadney and Cudney. 

Carlton, George W., ; 20, S.; laborer, Greenfield; 

June 14, '61; desert. June 18, '62, also said to have been 
captured by guerrillas; later in the 37th Mass. 

Chadwick, Russell L., b. Stockbridge; 28, S.; wood chopper, 
Stockbridge; June 14, '61; wd. May 5, '64, Wilderness; 
absent at M. O. July 1, '64. 

Clapp, Wm. H., b. North Lee; 30, M.; collier, Lee; June 14, 
'61; re. cr. Agawam, Dec. 21, '63; trans. Co. D, 37th 
Mass., June 20, '64. 

Clark, Gardner C, (R), b. Rutland; 20, —; student, ; 

en. Brightwood, D. C, Sept. 5, '61; dis. Dec. 1, '62, for 



354 The Tenth Massachusetts Ixfaxtry 

appointment as Act. Ass't. Surg.; as physician, prac- 
ticed in Niagara Falls, N. Y. 

Coddington, Josiah, b. Falls Village, Conn., 21, — ; scythe- 
maker, Springfield; June 14, '61; desert. July 13, '61. 
Also Caddington. 

Colburn, Charles D., b. Egremont; 25. M.; teamster, Egre- 
mont; June 14, '61; M. O. July 1, '64. 

Cook. George, b. Springfield; 19, S.; laborer, Springfield; 
June 14, '61; trans. Co. G, 2d U. S. Art'v., Nov. 21, '62; 
k. Cold Harbor, May 31, '64; W. D. Feb. 14, '68. Also 
George D. 

Cormack, James, b. Falls Village, Conn.; 20, S.; painter, 

; June 14, '61; wd. May 3, '62, Salem Heights; 

k. June 7, '64, Cold Harbor. Also Cormick. 

Couch, Alfred F., (Sergt.), b. Tyringham; 20, S.; baker, 
Great Harrington; June 14, '61; wd. Mav 3, '64, Salem ^ 
Heights; trans. V. R. C, Feb. 2, '64; M. O. June 21, '64, V. 
114 Co. 2nd Batt. V. R. C; in 1872; baker. Great 
Barrington. 

Cudney, Frank, vide, Cardney. 

Cummings, Lee, b. Sheffield; 27, S.; cohier, Sheffield; June 
14, '61; re. Dec. 21, '63; wd. in the thigh. Wilderness, '64; 
trans. 37th Mass., June 20, '64; trans. June 21, '65, 
20th Mass.; M. O. July 16, '65; rep. d. 1904. 

Cummings, Owen, b. Ireland; 27, M.; butcher, Great Bar- 
rington; June 14, '61; served entire enlistment in the 
Commissary department, as butcher; M. O. July 1, '64; 
in 1872, said to be a butcher in San Francisco. 

Curtis, Orrin, b. Sheffield; 24, S.; wood chopper, Sheffield; 
June 14, '61; desert. July 18, '61. 

Cushman, Julius A., b. Stafford, Conn. ; 36, M. ; laborer, Ware: 
June 14, '61; on provost guard about one year from 
spring of '63; came back to regiment in time for Grant's 
campaign of '64; severely wd. June 3, '64, Cold Harbor, 
M. O. July 1, '64; never able to do hard work afterwards, 
serving for the most part as a watchman in the Otis Mills, 
Ware; d. Sept. 12, '98. 

Cutting, Orville E., b. Lee; 19, S.; collier, Lee; June 14, '61; 
re. Dec. 21, '63; wd. hip. Cold Harbor; trans. Co. C. 
37th Mass. June 20, '64; prom. Sergt.; trans. 20th Mass., 
June 21, '65; M. O. July 16, '65. 



Company A 



335 



Daniels, George C, (alias Henry Clark Osbornj, (Mus.), b. 

Boston; 15, S.; , Boston; July 24, '61; re. or. 

Agawam, Dec. 21, '63; desert.. Mar. 16, '64, while home 
on furlough. 

Dawlev, Franklin J., b. Lanesboro; 40, S.; collier, Lee; 
June 14, '61; M. O. July 1, '64; in 1872, plate glass 
polisher, Lenox Furnace; d. Oct. 1., 1906; bur. Center 
Cem., Lee. Also "Danlev." 





JPr 





A. F. FARGO, 



G. G. TUCKER, 



.T. A. CUSHMAN. 



Dempsev, Josiah of Springfield; aged 20; en. June 14, '61; 

desert.' July 18, '61; X. F. R. 
Dennis, E^dward, b. Great Barrington; 21, S.; collier. Great 

Barrington; June 14, '61; dis. Nov. 26, "62, disa. 
Dennis, Luman, b. Great Barrington; 19, S.; collier. Great 

Barrington; June 14, '61; wd. leg, Salem Heights, 

May 3, '63; M. O. Jtdy 1, '64. 
Donovan, John, b. ; 45, M.; tailor, Lee; July 24, '61; 

Town record says, "Honorably discharged;" he appears 

to have been a deaf mute and, being a tailor, plied his 

trade while the Regiment was in camp; returning to 

Mass. he died about 1864. N. F. R. 
Fargo, Albert F., b. Sandisfield; 20, S.; carpenter, Monterey; 

June 14, '61; M. O. July 1, '64; in 1907, residing 235 

Shelton Street, Bridgeport, Conn. 
Finn, Michael, b. West Stockbridge; 20, S.; wood chopper, 

West Stockbridge; June 14, '61; dis. Dec. 16, '63, disa. 



356 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

French, Charles P., b. ; 26, M.; wagon-maker, West 

Stockbridge ; June 14, '61; re. Dec. 22, '63; d. as corp. 
of wds. rec'd May 6, '64, Wilderness. 

Fughery, Charles, b. Ireland; 21, S.; laborer. Great Barring- 
ton; June 14, '61; accidentally wounded, Feb. '63, in 
left 'hand; dis. Mar. 12, '63, disa. 

Gates, Charles A., b. Lee; 19, S.; wood chopper, Lee; June 
14, '61; M. O. July 1, '64; later, Co. C, 27th Mass.; dis. 
June 26, '65, close of the war; in 1872, lumberman, 
Washington, Kans.; in 1908, N. S. H., Hampton, Va. 

Gilmore, Charles A., b. Pittsfield; 19, S.; printer. Great 
Harrington; June 14, '61; trans. Non-Corn. Staff as 
Prin. Mus. June 5, '63; M. O. July 1, '64; during his 
service wrote army letters to Great Barrington Courier. 

Goddard, Pliny M., b. ; 22, S.; farmer, Berlin; June 

14, '61; dis. Aug. 15, '62, disa. 

Goodrich, John, b. Sheffield; 23, — ; , Springfield; 

June 14, '61; desert. July 4, '61, Independence Day 
for him. 

Haggerty, Daniel, b. Ireland; 23, S.; wood chopper, Great 
Barrington; June 14, '61; dis. May 2, '62, disa. 

Hamilton, Franklin D. b. ; 22, S.; teamster, Green- 
field; June 17, '61; dis. Oct. 25, '62, disa.; later in Co. 
B, 28th Mass.; rep. d. 1901. 

Hamilton, Trafton, (R), b. Pittsfield; 18, S.; farmer, Green- 
field; Feb. 24, '62; trans. Co. C, 37th Mass.; dis. Feb. 
23, '65, ex. of s; 1909, Orange. 

Hart, Davis, b. Sheffield; 28, S.; collier, Sheffield; re. Dec. 
21, '63; d. of wds. rec'd. May 12, '64, Spottsylvania. 

Hart, George L., b. Sheffield; 24, S.; collier, Egremont; 
June 14, '61; re. Dec. 21, '63; trans. Co. C, 37th Mass., 
June 20, '64; trans. 20th Mass., June 21, '65; M. O. 
July 16, '65. 

Harvey, Charles W., b. Falls Village, Conn.; 19, — ; , 

Springfield; June 14, '61; desert. July 13, '61. 

Hecox, James; 21, S.; collier, New Marlboro; June 21. '61; 
re. Dec. 21, '63; trans. June 20, '64, Co. C, 37th Mass.; 
trans. 20th Mass., June 21, '65; M. O. July 16, '65. 

Hewett, Robert; 24, S.; collier, Lee; June 14, '61; M. O. 
July 1, '64; later in V. R. C; 1909, Lee. 



CoMP.AAn- A 



357 



Hines, Marshall A., b. Lee; 24, S.; collier, Lee; June 14, '61- 
Corp. June 20, '63; M. O. July 1, '64; d. Dec. 27, 1897. Lee.' 

Hoag, W. D., b. Sheffield; 24, M.; , Springfield; 

June 14, '61; desert. July 13, '61. 




L. J. KILLELEA, 



SERG'T. \VM. M. STANARD, C. B. SCUDDER. 



Holmes, George H., (Corp.), 24, M.; weaver. Great Barring- 
tion; June 14, '61; dis. June 14, '63, disa. ; d. Sept. 4, 
1904, New Britain, Conn. 

Ives, Francis M., (Sergt.), b. Brooklyn, N. Y.; 28, S.; clerk. 
Great Barrington; June 14, '61; dis. Jan 13, '63 for 
prom. Second Lieut., 110th N. Y. Inf'try; N. Y. Record 
says, "Date of rank, Nov. 14, '62; date of Com., Dec. 9, 
'62; res. Feb. 4, '63;" Sergt. Ives was a brother of 
Captain Ives of Co. A. 

Kelly, Frederick; 35, S.; turner, Deerfield; June 14, '61; 
dis. Feb. 11, '63, disa.; Also Kalle. 

Kelly, Michael, b. Ireland; 20, S.; forgeman. Falls Village, 
Conn.; June 14, '61; d. June 4, '63, Potomac Creek 
Hosp. Also Kelley. 

Kernan, Robert, b. Ireland; 32, M.; wood chopper, Lee; 
June 14, '61; dishonorably dis. June 20, '63, Gen'l. Ct. 
martial. Also Keenan. 

Killelea, Lawrence J. , b. Ireland; 18, S. ; stabler. Great Barring- 
ton, June 21, '61; M. 0. July 1, '64; in 1909, West 
Buxton, Me. 

Lamb, Charles P., b. Shelburne Falls; 28, M.; stone-layer, 
Shelburne; June 14, '61; M. O. July 1, '64; rep. d. 1905. 

Levy, William, b. England; 20, S.; cook, Great Barrington; 



358 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

June 14, '61; trans, gunboat service, Feb. IG, '62; did 
not return to the Regiment; rep. desert. Aug. 7, '62, 
Helena, Ark. Also Levey. 

Luther, Joseph E.; 28, — ; , Springfield; June 14, '61; 

dis. July 10, '61, disa. 

McElroy, John; 26, S.; forgeman. Falls Village, Conn.; 
June 24, '61; desert, as Corp., July 23, '61. 

McGee, Hugh, b. Ireland; 26, M.; laborer, WilHamsburg; 
June 14, '61; re. Feb. 20, '64; wd. hand, Wilderness; 
trans. Co. D. .S7th Mass., June 20, '64; dis. Feb. 14, '65, 
disa. 

McWilliams, Edward, b. Belfast, Ire.; 27, S.; laborer, Spring- 
field,; June 14, '61; M. O. July 1, '64. 

Mallorv, Edward J., b. Norfolk, Conn.; 25, M.; wd. July 1, 
'62, Malvern Hill; dis. Nov. 21, '62, disa; in 1S72, farmer, 
Great Barrington. 

Mansir, Allen S., (First Sergt.), b. Tyringham; 29, S.; car- 
penter, Monterey; June 14, '61; prom. Second Lieut. 

Markham, Alfred J.; 25, — ; — , Springfield; June 14, 

'61; dis. Aug. 19, '61, disa. 

Markham, Lafayette; 21, S.; butcher, Great Barrington; 
June 14, '61; re. March 24, '64; trans. Co. C, 37th Mass., 
June 20, '64; trans. 20th Mass., June 21, '65; M. O. 
July 16, '65; 1909, 185 W. Madison St., Chicago. 

Merrill, John H., b. Sandisfield; 34, M.; brickmaker, Lee; 
June 14, '61; wd. head, Julv 1, '62, Malvern Hill; dis. 
Jan. 26, '63, disa.; later in Co. D., 57th Mass.; dis. Oct. 
15, '64, disa.; d. May 23, '65; bur. Center Cam., Lee. 

Millard, Rufus W., b. Becket; 36, M.; machinist, Springfield; 
June 14, '61; re. Dec. 20, '63; trans. June 20, '64, Co. I, 
37th Mass.; trans. June 21, '65, as Corp., 20th Mass.; 
M. 0. July 16, '65. 

Morrissey, Edward, b. Springfield; 22, S.; stabler, Spring- 
field; June 14, '61; re. cr. Agawam, Dec. 21, '63; trans. 
Jime 20, '64, Co. K, 37th Mass.; dis. June 21. '65, ex. of s. 

Newcomb, David, b. Boston; 17, — ; , Springfield; 

June 14, '61; dis. July 21, '61, disa.; later in Co. D, 

19th Mass., served three years. 
Newton, Isaac, (R), b. Greenfield; 18, S; farmer, Greenfield; 

Mar. 7, '62; dis. May 3, '62, disa. 



Co.MPAXY A 359 

Newton, Solomon D., b. Deerfield; 23, S.; machinist, Green- 
field; Sept. 10, '61; trans. 37th Mass., June 20, '64; 
M. O. Jan. 9, '65, ex. of s; 1909, Greenfield. 

Nickerson, Mark S., b. Canaan Falls, Conn.; 25, M.; forge- 
man. Falls Village, Conn.; June 14, '61; Corp. Jan. 1, '63; 
M. O. July 1, '64. 

Nye, Isaac W., b. Lee; 44, — ; , Springfield; June 14, 

'61; dis. July 22, '61, disa. Also Ney. 

Nye, John W., b. Lee; 22, S.; wood chopper, Lee; July 24, 
'61; re. Dec. 21, '63; trans, as First Sergt., June 20, '64, 
37th Mass.; prom. Sergt. Major; trans. June 21, '65, 
20th Mass.; d. Insane Hosp., Northampton, June 24, '97. 

O'Brien, Patrick, b. Ireland; 25, — ; •, Springfield; 

June 14, '61; Corp. Jan. 1, '63; wd. leg, Salem Heights, 
May 3, '62; trans. V. R. C, Feb. 2, '64; d. before 1S72, 
Northampton. 

Olds, James, (Corp.), b. Sheffield; 43, M.; carpenter, Great 
Barrington; June 14, '61; dis. Feb. 1)5, '63, disa.; d. 
S. H., May 16, '88. 

Peaseley, Calvin, b. Holderness, N. H.; 36, M.; collier. 
Great Barrington; June 14, '61; sun-struck on march 
from Kalorama to Brightwood; as ambulance driver, 
was badly injured by a kick from his horse; had narrow 
escape from burning hosp.; dis. Dec. 17, '61, disa.; in 
1872, stage driver. West Otis; d. April 27, 1900, Otis. 

Pendleton, George R., b. Egremont; 22, S.; harness-maker, 
Egremont; June 14, '61; wd. May, '64, Wilderness; 
M. O. July 1, '64; later in Co. A., First Hancocks Veterans 
cr. to New Jer.sey. 

Pennock, Charles L., b. Sharon, Conn.; 22, S.; wood chopper, 
Sheffield; June 14, '61; dis. Feb. 12, '63, disa.; in Oct., 
'63, en. 34th Mass.; trans. June 14, '65, 24th Mass.; 
M. O. Jan 20, '66; in 1872, farmer. West Reading, Conn. 

Pervear, Horace, (R), b. Greenfield; 37, M.; ship carpenter, 
Greenfield; Feb. 24, '62; en. in Co. D, Feb. 24, '62; 
dis. Jan. 8, '63, disa.; later in Co. B, 28th Mass. Also 
Pevere and Purvere. 

Pervere, Dwight C; 28, S.; wood chopper, Deerfield; June 
14, '61; dis. June 19, '62, disa.; also given, "d. June 22, 
'62, White House Landing." Also Purvere. 

Pervere, Rufus, b Deerfield; 21, — ; , Greenfield; 



360 The Tenth Massachusetts Inf.yis'try 

Sept. 10, '61; wd. foot, May 12, '64, Spottsylvania; 
trans. Co. C, 37th Mass., June 20, '64; dis. June 21, '65, 
ex. of s. Also Purvere. 

Pervere, Russell M., (R), b. Deerfield; 25, S.; farmer. Green- 
field; Feb. 24, '64; re. Dec. 21, '64, cr. Agawam; trans. 
June 20, '64, Co. C, 37th Mass. though the rolls bear him 
as missing since May, '64; d. April 13, '65, Vicksburg, 
Miss. Also Purvere. 

Peters, Charles A., (Mus.), b. Italy; 23, S.; drummer, Lee; 
June 14, '61; re. Mar. 20, '64, cr. Springfield; trans. 
June 20, '64, Co. C, 37th Mass.; dis. May 16, '65, 
disa. His real name was Angelo Petracchi and, after 
the war, returning to Italy, died there. 

Pinney, John W., b. Great Harrington; 28, M.; wood chopper, 
Lee; June 14, '61; dis. June 8, '62, disa.; d. Aug. 25, 
'98, Lee. 

Powers, Nathaniel N., (Corp.), b. Worcester; 26, S.; shoe- 
maker, Worcester; wd. Fair Oaks, May 31, '62, and 
taken prisoner; dis. Feb. 17, '63, disa. 

Prouty, Wm. Henry, b. Northampton; 22, S.; farmer North- 
ampton; June 24, '61; dis. Sept. 21, '63, disa.; later 
Co. C, 57th Mass.; M. O. with regiment, Aug. 9, '65. 

Pugh, Thomas, (Corp.), b. Wales, Great Britain; 32, S.; 
weaver, Great Barrington; June 21, '61; wd. leg. May 
3, '63, Salem Heights; M. O. July 1, '64; rep. d. 1898. 

Rice, Luther; 26, — ; farmer, Springfield; Sept. 10, '61; 
d. typhoid fever, U. S. Gen'l. Hosp., New York, June 15, 
'62; bur. Cypress Hill Cemetery, New York; funeral 
services, Greenfield, June 23, '62, sermon by Methodist 
minister. Rev. Nelson Stutson. 

Ring, Joseph; 21, S.; machinist, Springfield; June 14, '61; 
re. Dec. 21, '63; trans. June 20, '64, 37th Mass.; trans. 
June 21, '65, 20th Mass.; M. O. July 16, '65. 

Ryan, Kenan, also Kerran, b. Lee; 22, S.; clerk, Lee; June 
14, '61; Corp. May 31, '62; M. O. July 1, '64; d. Holyoke; 
bur. Catholic Cem., Lee. 

Sanders, John, b. Wilbraham; 23, S.; laborer, Wilbraham; 
June 14, '61; dis. Jan. 1, '63, disa.; Roll of Honor, p. 22, 
says " d. Feb. 7, '64, and bur. New York." Also Saunders. 

Scudder, Chester B., b. Roxbury, Conn.; 18, S.; carpenter, 
Monterey; June 14, '61; wd. shoulder. May 12, '64, 
Spottsylvania; M. O. July 1, '64; manufactured cigars 



Company A 361 

in 111. three years; returning was Capt. of the Guards, 
U. S. Treasury Dept., Government Mill, Dalton, several 
years; elected to Legislature, '94 and '95; foreman in 
paper mill since; Past Commander, Post 197, G. A. R., 
Pittsfield; in 1908, Dalton; his age, at enlistment was 
really 16 years. 

Short, William, b. Ware; 21, S.; laborer, Lowell; June 14, 
'61; dis. Feb. 2, '64, disa.; d. New York, Feb. 10, '64. 

Shultes, George, b. Monterev; 20, S.; collier, Monterey; 

June 14, '61; M. O. July 1, '64; in 1908, Hartsville. 

Also Shelters. 
Smith, Peter, b. Kinderhook, N. Y.; 32, S.; collier, Sheffield; 

June 14, '61; wd. Malvern Hill, July 1, '62; re. Dec. 

21, '63; trans. June 20, '64, 37th Mass.; trans. June 

21, '65, 20th Mass.; M. O. July 16, '65. 

Stdnard, William M., b. New Marlboro; 24, S.; carpenter, 

New Marlboro; April 24, '61; Corp. May 31, '63; wd. 

side, Julv 1, '62, Malvern Hill; Sergt. July 23, '62; wd. 

May 3, '63, Salem Heights; M. O. July 1, '64; for many 

years a mechanic, Mill River; d. Mar. 6, 1908, Pittsfield; 

bur. Tyringham. 
Stedman, Orrin; 18, — ; , Springfield; June 14, '61; 

desert. July 8, '61. Also Steadman. 
Stevenson, Thomas B.; 21, S.; carpenter, New Haven, Conn.; 

June 14, '61; desert. Aug. 17, '62, when on detached duty 

with a battery. 
Suraner, Alonzo, b. Van Deusenville; 19, S.; laborer, Great 

Harrington; June 14, '61; dis. Jan. 18, '63, disa.; d. 

before 1872. Also Surrener. 
Taylor, Jarvis, b. Monterey; 20, S.; wood chopper, Canaan, 

Me.; June 14, '61; d. Oct. 23, '62, Cherry Run Ford, Va. 
Titus, Lucian M., b. Deerfield; 28, S.; butcher, Prescott; 

June 14, '61; dis. Oct. 28, '61, disa. 
Tubbs, John B., (Sergt.), b. Sheffield; 21, S.; lumberman, 

Sheffield; June 14, '61; M. O. July 1, '64; in 1872, 

teamster. Mill River; 1909, Clayton. 
Tucker, George G., b. Dalton; 22, S.; teamster, Dalton; 

June 14, '61; wd. July 1, '62, Malvern Hill; dis. Sept. 

29, '62, disa.; resides in Dalton, 1909. 
Turner, Alvin; 26, S.; forgeman, Forge Village, Conn.; 

June 14, '61; desert. July 23, '61. 



362 Thk Tioxth Massachusetts Ixfaxtry 

Wallace, William, b. Pittsfield; 26, S.; merchant, Pittsfield; 
Mar. 28, '62; desert. June 5, '62, Savage Station, Va. 
What degeneracy in a William Wallace! 

Warner, George, (Wagoner), b. Great Barrington; 32, S.; 
teamster. Great Barrington; re. Jan. 20, '64, cr. Hat- 
field; trans. June 20, '64, 37th Mass.; trans. June 21, 
'65, 20th Mass.; M. O. July 16, '65; 1909, W. Stockbridge. 

Welch, Thomas, b. Great Barrington; 19, S.; wagon maker, 
Great Barrington; June 21, '61; M. O. July 1, '64. 

Wheeler, William, b. Lee; 27, M.; collier, Lee; June 14, '61; 
for some time served with Telegraph Corps; M. O. 
July 16, '64; 1909, Pittsfield. 

Williams, Anias; 23, S.; R. stabler, Sandisfield; N. F. 
A suggestive given name. 

Williams, Austin G.; 27, — ; farmer, Sandisfield; June 21, 
'61; re. Dec. 21, '63; cr. Agawam; trans. June 20, '64, 
37th Mass.; trans. June 21, '65, 20th Mass.; M. O. 
July 16, '65; 1909, Central Falls, R. I. 

Woodward, Henry, b. Lee; 31, M.; laborer, Lee; June 
14, '61; desert. April 4, '62; while with the regiment, he 
was a wagon driver; in April he was sent to Washington 
to turn in his outfit to the Quartermaster's department; 
instead of returning, he remained with his wagon and 
was a teamster for the government during the war, hence 
his record; charge of desertion removed bv letter from 
W. D., April 29, ^'96. 

COMPANY B, NORTHERN BERKSHIRE 

JOHNSON GRAYS 

The patriotic fervor of southern Berkshire was rivaled by 
that of the northern part of the county. The town of Adams 
with its many industries was a centre of vigorous, active and 
thoughtful humanity. The weekly press had long kept its 
readers posted with the doings of the country at large, and the 
impending dangers of national disruption had no more appre- 
ciative observers than the mechanics and farmers of this 
northwest portion of Massachusetts. The populous village 
of North Adams for several years had maintained a military 
company known as the "Gray lock Infantry" which served 
as a nucleus for the would-be soldiers of the vicinity. Early 
in the month of April, the local paper, Hoosac Valley News 
and Transcript, earnestly appealed to the citizens of North 
Adams to subscribe funds for the arraving and equipping for 



Company B 363 

active service of this local organization. Three thousand 
dollars was the sum thought necessary, but so generously 
did the people respond that almost twice that sum was con- 
tributed, viz, $5,634.00. This large amount represented the 
gifts of one hundred and eighteen firms and individuals, the 
sums given ranging from those of $500.00 from wealthy donors, 
down to the $1.00 tribute of the laboring man. 

That there might be a new and clean start, fresh enlistment 
papers were made out and on Thursday, April 18th, a recruit- 
ing office was opened and in one week eighty-three names 
were on the roll and the men themselves were drilling three 
times a week. The Phoenix engine house was occupied as an 
armory, until the Company was ordered into camp. Men 
having families as a rule boarded at home, but it soon became 
necessary for the town to come to the relief of families whose 
heads were earning nothing, having devoted themselves to 
Warlike preparation. Arrangements were accordingly made 
with Mrs. Quackenbush who kept a large boarding house on 
River street for the Company to eat with her, so for several 
weeks the men marched the intervening distance of a quarter 
of a mile, three times a day, for their meals. Cloth for new 
uniforms was procured and Chapin and Briggs began the 
making of them. Consisting of jacket and pantaloons of 
cadet gray, the new soldiers bore a striking resemblance to 
the Confederates whom they were soon to meet. 

April 29th, the citizens of Adams in their town-meetmg 
voted that a committee of seven be appointed who should 
use the funds of the town not to exceed twenty thousand 
dollars for the aid of volunteers and their families. The 
committee included Sylvander Johnson, J. B. Jackson, H. 
Cartwright, A. W. Richardson, Wm. C. Plunkett, D. J. Dean 
and J. N. Dunham. The meeting, after such liberal provision 
for the wants of needy patriots, adjourned with ringmg 
cheers for the Union and the Stars and Stripes. The next 
day came the election of Company officers at a meeting, 
presided over by Major Wm. W. Brown, wherein Elisha 
Smart was made Captain; Samuel C. Traver, First Lieut.; 
L. W. Goddard, J. W. Mallory and Wm. E. Briggs became 
Second, Third and Fourth Lieuts., respectively. By a vote 
of the Companv its name was changed to "Johnson Grays " m 
honor of Mr. Sylvander Johnson who had presided at the 
meeting where so much was done towards perfectmg the 
organization and inspiriting the men while waitmg for the 
call into active service. 



364 The Tenth Massachusetts Ixfaxtky 

A step nearer active soldier life was taken, May 4th. when 
the engine house was given up for a camp, north of the old 
brick factory of Arnold and Ray. A large crowd assembled 
to witness the change, the colors were run up, speeches were 
made by Gen. A. A. Richmond and M. F. Adams, cannon 
were fired, and the soldiers drilled and stationed guards. 
The camp was named for the same gentleman, Sylvander 
Johnson, for whom the Company was already called. Ample 
provision was made for the comfort of the men in every 
respect, though care was taken that all sorts of ardent spirits 
should be kept out. Seemingly every one capable of helping 
was on the alert to do something for the men and the red 
flannel shirts which were given them were made by the 
ladies in Burlingame and Ray's hall. Meanwhile the newly 
enlisted men were delighting the eyes of the villagers by their 
frequent marches through the streets and their exhibitions 
of progress in drill. 

June 7th came the new uniforms and the sending of the arms 
of the men to Boston, ostensibly for inspection, really for the 
arming of certain regiments in the eastern part of the State. 
The day following, responding to an invitation from South 
Adams, in later days to be known as Adams, the Company 
marched to that village, six miles away. When within one 
mile of the place the Company was met by a delegation of 
citizens, three hundred strong, under the lead of Gen. Wm. 
C. Plunkett, who with martial music accompanied the visitors 
into the village. The place was thronged with residents and 
those who had come in for the demonstration. After march- 
ing through the principal streets, the procession proceeded to 
the Methodist church where the soldiers were welcomed by 
General Plunkett and most plentifully feasted by the ladies. 
After dinner came speeches by the Rev. Messrs. E. T. Hunt 
and John Tatlock. Others as J. N. Dunham, Hon. E. F. 
Jenks and Dwight Cole followed, while Captain Smart spoke 
eloquently for his men. As a crowning expression of enthusi- 
asm it was voted that South Adams would give the Company 
a dinner* on its return from the war and measures were taken 
at once to secure funds for the purpose. After an exhibition 
drill and another march through the streets, the Company 
took the cars for the camp in North Adams. 

Nor were the spiritual interests of the soldiers neglected, 

*The return dinner was never gi\-en. Only a scant remnant came 
back to whom "vacant chairs" would have been anything but an 
appetizer. It was a promise better broken than kept. 



Company B 365 

since on Sunday, June 9th, the Rev. Mr. Sanford in the 
Baptist church gave the men an excellent sermon. To the 
singing of "America" by the choir the Company marched 
away to repeat the exercises in the afternoon at the Methodist 
church, the Rev. Mr. Jutkins preaching. Every day seemed 
to have some new incident, for on the 10th on returning from 
a march up to the Beaver mill, the Company was presented 
with a fine gilt-edged Bible by Mrs. O. Arnold, the Captain 
receiving it in the name of his followers. The evening of the 
same day was noteworthy for the supper given the Company 
by Mr. Sylvander Johnson at his residence, where Messrs. 
Rogers and Keyes sang "The Star Spangled Banner," Mr. 
Charles Williams spoke in behalf of the host and Mrs. Johnson 
presented each man with a towel. June 12th, the ladies of 
the town gave the men a collation on the lot of Charles O. 
Hall and on the same afternoon came the order from Governor 
Ai))drew for the "Grays" to go into camp on Hampden Park, 
Springfield, June 14th. 

There was still one more day for feasting and speaking. 
The ladies on Church Hill improved the opportunity, spread 
their tables in front of the Congregational church and fed 
the men bountifully. Then came an address by the Rev. 
Mr. Sanford as he presented to each man a handkerchief, 
havelock, Testament and a bag filled with pins, needles and 
other necessaries for individual use. The clergyman's remarks 
were particularly appropriate and feeling, as he passed out 
the gifts, each Testament having the soldier's name written 
on the fly-leaf. Soon after, similar gifts of Bibles and Testa- 
ments were received from the Berkshire Bible Society, through 
its president, Walter Laflin of Pittsfield, which were also 
distributed. The last speaker was the Hon. Henry L. Dawes, 
in subsequent years, to be the long time Senator from Massa- 
chusetts in Congress, who forcefully addressed the men and 
concluded his remarks with the presentation of two stands 
of colors and a blanket from the widow of Gen. A. A. Rich- 
mond, the articles being the personal property of the General. 

Friday, June 14th, was the last day for the Company in North 
Adams and a vast array of people gathered to see the boys 
off. Ninety-four in number and headed by Hodges' band, 
the soldiers made their final appearance, took their seats m 
the cars and were given a tumultuous send-off. A similar 
reception awaited them in South Adams, and Cheshire. In 
Pittsfield the men debarked and marched through the streets 
and at 8.00 p. m. were off again for Springfield, where they 



366 The Tenth Massachusetts Ixfantry 

were received by the six companies already there, and escorted 
to their barracks on the Park. 

(For full explanation of abbreviations see page 332.) 

COMMISSIONED OFFICERS 

CAPTAINS 

Elisha Smart, b. Stamford, Vt.; 37, M.; carpenter, Adams; 
June 14, '61; k. May 31, '62, Fair Oaks; had served in 
the regular arm}^ 2nd U. S. Dragoons; two and a half 
years in Florida War, finished enlistment in Fourth 
Artillery; afterwards had been active in the militia. 

Samuel C. Traver, June 1, '62; cashiered, Nov. 25, '62; letter 
Adj't. Gen'l's Office, Washington, Dec. 10, '62; d. Hy- 
more, Hyde Co., South Dakota, 1907. 

William Streeter, (H); Nov. 26, '62; M. O. July 1, "64; bvt. 
Major, Mar. 13, '65; in 1875, machinist and bank-lock 
manufacturer, Rochester, N. Y. ; in 1908, Rochester, N. Y. 

first lieutenants 

Samuel C. Traver, b. Dutchess Co., N. Y.; 24, M.; merchant, 
North Adams; June 14, '61; prom. Captain. 

David W. Wells; June 1, '62; disa. in retreat from Harrison's 
Landing, by loaded ammunition wagon running over 
right foot; some time in Chesapeake hosp.; came back 
to Reg't. at Drownsville, Md., and again at New Balti- 
more, in both cases, unable to march, whereupon he res. 
and was dis., Nov. 28, '62; from '63 to '75, Kansas City, 
Mo.; manager of Santa Fe Stage Line; in 1875, moved 
to Chicago; member, Geo. H. Thomas Post 5, G. A. R., 
and Illinois Commandery, Loyal Legion; d. Mar. 16, 1908. 

Edwin B. Bartlett; Nov. 26, '62; k. May 18, '64, Spottsylvania. 

Wm. H. Cousens; May 22, '64; trans. June 21, '64, 37th 
Mass.; wd. July 12, '64, Fort Stevens, D. C; M. O. as 
supernumerary, Nov. 26, '64; in 1869, lumberman, Adams. 

SECOND LIEUTENANTS 

Lewis W. Goddard, b. Newfane, Vt.; 40, M.; cutter. North 

Adams; res. Nov. 19, '61; d. S. H., Wisconsin, 1900. 
David W. Wells; Nov. 20, '61; prom. First Lieut. 



Company B 367 

Napoleon P. A. Blais; June 21, '62; d. typhoid fever, Harri- 
son's Landing, Va., July. 31, '62; Monthly Report, No. 8, 
says "July 30;" bur. North Adams; body removed to 
Canada, 1866. 

Edwin B. Bartlett, Sept. 29, '62; (F), prom. First Lieut. 

George C. Kaulbach, (G) ; Nov. 26, '62; detailed for balloon 
service. Mar. 2, '63, under Prof. Carlincourt Lowe; Mar. 
13, was placed in charge of the balloons with instructions 
to keep them in the air and to report all observations from 
his altitude of 2,000 feet; he made twenty-six ascensions 
in one day ; during retrograde movement from Fredericks- 
burg to Fairfax Station, the balloons were with the rear 
guard and the Lieutenant was able to make important 
reports to the commanding General; June 16, under 
orders, he sent the balloons to Washington and reported to 
his Reg't. ; at the Angle, May 12, '64, was in command of 

^' Co. E; M. O. July 1, '64; bvt. First Lieut. andCapt., Mar. 
13, '65; in 1875, Sandy Creek, Oswego Co., N. Y.; in 
1908, Pittsburg, Pa. 

NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS AND PRIVATES 

Amidon, Lewis F., b. North Adams; 24, S.; carder. North 
Adams; June 14, '61; wd. right leg. Fair Oaks, May 31, 
'62; dis. Oct. 31, '62, disa.; later in First Mass. Cay. 
till close of war; wd. Wilderness, captured and held in 
Richmond, four months; 1909, No. Adams. 

Atwood, John E., b. North Adams ; 21, S.; carpenter, North 
Adams; June 14, '61; wd. ankle, Fair Oaks; Corp., Dec. 
26, '62; M. O. July 1, '64; policeman and building mover, 
North Adams; d. Oct. 3, 1907. He was one of the Massa- 
chusetts Color Guard, when Lincoln delivered his famous 
address at the dedication of the Gettysburg Cemetery; 
the other man from the 10th was W. W. Mason of Co. K. 

Berry, John; aged 19; June 21, '61; desert. Aug. 11, '61; not 
found on State House rolls. 

Blais, Napoleon P. A., (First Sergt.), b. Canada; 27, M.; 
carpenter, North Adams; June 14, '61; prom. Second 
Lieut. 

Blinn, Nathan O., (Corp.), b. Pittsfield; 27, M.; carpenter, 
North Adams; June 14, '61; trans, gunboat service, Feb. 
17, '62; dis. April 20, '63, disa.; rep. d. 1872. 

Blossom, Henry G., b. Woodstock, Vt.; 21, S. ; teamster, 



368 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

North Adams; June 14, '61; Corp., Aug. 20, '6:]; M. O. 
July 1, '64; later in Hancock's Veteran Reserve, Co. C, 
4th Reg't.; prom. Sergt. therein, Jan 15, '66; in 1869, 
farmer. North Adams. Also "Blassom." 

Blossom, James W. ,b. Rutland, Vt.; 19, S.; teamster, North 

Adams; June 14, '61; re. Dec. 21, '63, cr. Longmeadow; 

trans. June 21, '64, 37th Mass.; trans. June 20, '65, 20th 

Mass. Also "Blassom." 
Bolster, Geo. W., b. North Adams; 21, S.; baker, North 

Adams; June 21, '61; dis. Oct. 9, '61, disa. 

Bovle. John, (R) ; 28, — ; , Brightwood, D. C; Nov. 

16, '61; dis. Mar. 26, '63, disa. 
Briggs, George C, (Corp.), b. North Adams; 18, S.; clerk. 

North Adams; June 14, '61; trans. V. R. C, Jan. 6, '64; 

dis. June 21, '64, disa. ; in 1906, lived in New York State. 

Briggs, Wm. E., b. North Adams; 34, M.; teamster, North 
Adams; June 14, '61; First Sergt. from Sergt., Jan. 1, '63; 
wd. hand. Wilderness; M. O. July 1, '64; d. N. S. H., 
Togus, Me., Dec. 4, 1893. 

Brooks, Levi W., b. Northampton; 22, S.; teamster. North 
Adams; June 14, '61; k. Fair Oaks, May 31, '62. 

Brown, Wm. H., b. Pittsfield; 30, S.; merchant. North 
Adams; June 14, '61; dis. Feb. 23, '63, disa; Past Com- 
mander, Dep't. No. Dakota, G. A. R.; 1908, Grand 
Forks, No. Dak. 

Burnap, Edward C, b. Marlow, N. H.; 20, M.; clerk. North 
Adams; June 14, '61; wd. right hand, while on picket, 
July 4, '62; dis. Aug. 20, '62, disa.; later served in 8th 
N. H. Inft'v.; dis. Oct. 28, '65, Vicksburg, Miss.; d. 
Sept. 1, 1883. 

Burnham, Frederick; 20, S.; painter, Holvoke; June 21, '61; 
en. Co. I; trans, to "B," Aug. 6, '6'2; M. O. as Mus., 
July 1, '64. 

Caneda, Philo, b. Readsboro, Vt. ; 20, S. ; clerk. North Adams; 
d. Sept. 5, '62. 

Carle, Thomas, (R), b. Buckland; 24, S.; operative, Colrain; 
Aug. 29, '62; re. Dec. 21, '63, cr. Buckland; trans. June 
20, '64, 37th Mass. ; trans. June 21, '65, 20th Mass. ; M. O. 
Tulv 16, '65; dropped from rolls of N. S. H., Davton, 
Ohio, 1880. 

Carpenter, George, (R), b. Savoy; 21, S.; farmer. Savoy; 



Company B 369 

Aug. 29, '61; wd. leg, Fair Oaks; trans. June 21, '64, 

37th Mass.; dis. June 21, '64, ex. of s. 
Cavanaugh, James H., b. North Adams; 20, S. ; clerk, Adams; 

June 14, '61; trans. V. R. C, Mar. 21, '63; also found, 

"Oct. 27, '63;" since 1863, clerk, Treasury Dept., Wash- 
ington, D. C. 
Charles, John, b. North Adams; 19, S.; teamster, Adams; 

June 14, '61; M. O. July 1, '64; in 1908, in Government 

employ. 
Cheesbro, Alfred; 19, S.; teamster, Adams; July 24, '61; 

not mustered, left Reg't. at Springfield. 
Clegg, Hiram, 25, S. ; weaver, Adams; July 24, '61; not 

mustered, left Reg't. at Medford. Also "Jerome." 
Cole, Joseph W., b. England; 27, S.; carder, Adams; June 

21, '61; dis. Mar. 2, '63, disa.; later served in Co. C, 3rd 

Vt. Inft'y. ; wd. knee, April 2nd, '65, Petersburg; d. 

Mar. 6, '92, Adams; from family data, his age was 35 

at enlistment. 
Cooper, Ferris A., (R), b. New York City; 19, S.; bookkeeper, 

Adams; Aug. 29, '61; trans. June 21, '64, 37th Mass.; 

dis. Aug. 23, '64, ex. of s. ; in 1869, bookkeeper, Cincin- 
nati, Ohio; d. 1890, St. Loius, Mo., bank teller. 
Cotton, Simon B., b. Pittsfield, Vt.; 36, S.; tinsmith, Adams; 

June 14, '61; M. O. July 1, '64; later served in Co. D, 

61st Mass.; borne on State House rolls as Simeon B. 

Colton; d. Feb. 17, 1870, North Adams. 
Cousens, Wm. H., b. Egremont; 27, S.; spinner, Adams; 

June 14, '61; Sergt., Aug. 9, '62; re. Dec. 21, '63; prom. 

First Lieut., Mav 22, '64; also found as Cousins; d. Mar. 

1905, Detroit, Mich. 
Cumminsky, James, b. France; 31, M.; shoemaker, Adams; 

June 14, '61; desert. Aug. 11, '62. 
Darby, Wm. F., b. WilHamstown; 26, S; clerk. North 

Adams; June 21, '61; Commissary Sergt., May, '62. 
Deon, Major, b. Canada; 21, S.; carder. North Adams; June 

14, '61; k. July 1, '62, Malvern Hill. 
Dwyer, James; 20, S.; carder. North Adams; June 14, '61; 

left Reg't., having been claimed by another organization; 

en. as Henry C. Osborne. 
Eldridge, Simeon N., (Sergt.), b. Chatham, N. Y.; 22, S.; 

painter. North Adams; June 14, '61; prom. Second Lieut. 

(E). 



370 



The Tenth ISIassachusetts Ixfaxtky 



Estee, Sidney T., (R), b. Salem, N. Y.; 20, M.; 



.^^ - , . ., . . Shel- 

burne; Sept/loV'61; wd.May 31, '62, Fair Oaks; dis. 
Sept. 18, '62, disa.; later, in Co. H, 27th Mass.; dis. 
June 15, '65, O. W. D.; borne there as Estes; in 1869, 
machinist, Colrain. 




LIEUT. D. W. WELLS, 



LIEUT. W. F. DARBY 



Fuller, Hiland H., b. Hartwellville, Vt.; 21, S.; teamster. 
North Adams; June 14, '61; M. 0. as Corp. July 1, '64; 
in 1869, farmer, Hartwellville, Vt.; 1908, farmer, Roches- 
ter, N. Y. 

Fulton, Alexander W., b. on board ship, Win grave, Atlantic 
ocean, of Scotch parents; 21, S.; shoemaker, North 
Adams; June 14, '61; M. O. July 1, '64; in 1907, retired 
shoe manufacturer. North Adams; in Legislature, 1886; 
is now a member of the City Council, Chairman of Com. 
on State Aid, Soldiers' Relief and Burial. 

Gaffney, John, b. North Adams; 19, S. ; carver. North Adams; 
June 21, '61; re. Dec. 21, '63; trans. June 21, '64. 37th 
Mass.; trans. June 21, '65, 2Uth Mass.; M. 0. July 16, '65; 
d. 1884, North Adams. 

Gage, Frederick W., b. Bennington, Vt.; 20, S.; clerk, North 
Adams; June 21, '61; trans. Signal Corps, Sept. 11. '63; 
re. Feb. 21, '64; dis. Aug. 23, '65; dead. 

Galligan, Peter, b. Ireland; 23, S.; mason. North Adams; 
June 14, '61; re. Dec. 21, '63; wd. May 4, '64, Wilder- 
ness; trans. June 21, '64, 37th Mass.; trans. June 21, '65, 



Company B 371 

20th Mass.; M. O. July 16, '65; in 1869, laborer, North 
Adams; in 1908, North Adams. 

Green, Levi R., b. Adams; 24, S.; teamster, North Adams; 
June 14, '61; wd. July 3, '63, Gettysburg and at the 
Wilderness, May 5, '64; re. Dec. 21, '63; trans. June 21, 
'64, 37th Mass. ; trans. June 21, '65, 20th Mass. ; M. O. Aug. 
12, '65, ex. of s.; in 1869, farmer, Williamstown ; d. 1906. 

Hall, Alfred, b. North Adams; 24, M.; printer. North Adams; 
June 14, '61; desert. May 6, '64; d. 1895, Detroit, Mich. 

Hannigan, James George, b. England; 35, — ; , Spring- 
field; June 14, '61; M. O. July 1, '64; in 1869, peddler, 
South Boston; d. Mar. 26, 1896. 

Hanson, George, b. New Bedford; 28, S.; machinist. North 
Adams; June 14, '61; wd. Mav 31, '62, Fair Oaks; dis. 
, Dec. 5, '62, for Com. in 9th N. H. Inft'y. 

Harrington, Wm. H.; 26, M.; teamster. North Adams; June 

14, '61; re. Jan. 20, '64, cr. Adams; trans. June 21, '64, 

37th Mass.; trans. June 21, '65, 20th Mass.; M. O. July 

16, '65; in 1908, North Adams. 
Harris, Henrv K.; 24, M.; teamster. North Adams; June 14, 

'61; M. O. July 1, '64; in 1909, Wanconda. 111. 
Harwood, Orrin S.; 24, M.; teamster, North Adams; June 

14, '61; re. Dec. 21, '63, cr. Savoy; k. May 5, '64, Wilder- 
ness. 
Haskins, Adelbert A., b. North Adams; 21, M.; molder, 

North Adams; June 14, '61; wd. hand. May 31, '62, Fair 

Oaks, and shoulder, Malvern Hill; trans. V. R. C, Sept. 

1, '63; dis. June 21, '64; in 1869, marble business. South 

Adams; 1909, No. Adams. 
Hazlett, John; 37, M.; shoemaker. North Adams; June 14, 

'61; dis. Mar. 26, '63, disa.; d. April 28, 1894. 
Hazlett, William, b. Scotland; 35, M.; shoemaker. North 

Adams; June 14, '61; M. O. Chief Bugler, July 1, '64; 

in 1869, shoemaker, North Adams; d. Mar. 19, 1888. 
Herman, John; 26, S. ; weaver. North Adams; June 14, '61; 

re. Jan. 20, '64, cr. Adams; trans. June 21, '64, 37th 

Mass.; dis. Dec. 8, '64, disa. 
Hickox, Stephen W., 19, M.; clerk. North Adams; June 14, 

'61; k. May 5, '64, Wilderness. 
Hill, Simon B.; 20, S.; baggage master, Kent, Conn.; Aug. 

29, '61; dis. Sept. 27, '62, disa. 



372 



The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 




GEORGE F. HOLDRIDGE. 



Hoffmaster, Henrv, (Corp.); 26, M.; weaver, North Adams; 
June 14, "61; dis. Nov. 15, '62, disa. ; d. N. S. H., Davton, 
Ohio, June 27, 1899. 

Holdridge, George F., b. North 
Adams; 24, — ; , Spring- 
field; June 21, '61; lost but 
one day of duty during entire 
term of service; M. O. Corp., 
July 1, '64; in 1909, farmer, 
Brimfield. 

Hosmer, Jesse B., b. Boston; 25, 
M.; farmer, Springfield; Sept. 
6, '61; ever on duty and 
in Maryland campaign, '62, 
marched barefoot, 7 weeks; 
trans. Sept. 1, '63, V. R. C, 
12th Reg't.; dis. Sept. 6,' 64, 
ex. of s. ; in 1875, residing in 
Springfield; dead. 

Houghtailing, Christopher G., (R), b. Sandy Lake, N. Y. ; 22, 
— ; mechanic, Colrain; Sept. 2, '61; re. Dec. 21, '63; 
wd. right thigh, Mav 5, Wilderness; trans. June 21, '64, 
37th Mass.; trans. June 21, '65, 20th Mass.; M. O. July 
16, '65; in 1869, mechanic, Colrain; 1908, South Hadley 
Falls. 

Hubbard, Charles H.; 21, S.; carpenter. North Adams; June 
14, '61; M. O. as First Sergt., Julv 1, '64; in 1908, Pitts- 
field. 

Hubbard, George S.; 29, M.; bootmaker. North Adams 
June 14, '61; not mustered. 

Hunt, Elisha; 21, S.; teamster, North Adams; June 14, '61 
dis. Sept. 26, '62, disa.; 1908, Williamstown. 

Hunt, Russell F., b. Hawley; 25, S.; teamster. North Adams. 

June 14, '61; had fought in many battles, w^d. twice 

before he was k. May 5, '64, Wilderness. 
Jeffers, Charles, b. Williamstown; 21, M.; teamster, North 

Adams; wd. right arm, Fair Oaks; desert., Aug. 11, '62. 

according to State House rolls; C. J. says he was trans. 

to 11th N. Y. Cav., Sept. 12, '62; in 1869, machinist, 

Battle Creek, Mich. 

Jenkins, Rosser, (R); 28, S.; miner, Adams; Aug. 23, '62; 
re. Dec. 21, '63, or. Agawam; captured May 12, '64, 



Company B 373 

Spottsylvania, held in Anderson ville, five months, thence 
sent to Florence, South Carolina, whence he went north, 
Dec. 12, '64; in absence, was trans. June 21, '64, 37th 
Mass. ; trans. June 21, '65, 20th Mass. ; M. O. July 16, '65; 
in 1869, mason. North Adams; also found "Jankins." 

Jewett, Charles E., (Sergt.), b. South Deerfield; 20, S.; 
machinist, Deerfield; June 14, '61; M. O. July 1, '64; 
in 1869, mechanic. South Deerfield ; 1909, E. Whately. 

Jones, Charles H.; 24, M.; carpenter, Wilhamstown; June 
14, '61; dis. from hosp. June 21, '64, ex. of s. 

Jones, William, (Mus.) ; 13, S; , Springfield, June 14, 

'61; N. F. R. 

Joy, Edward S., b. South Adams; 24, M.; painter, Pittsfield; 
June 14, '61; dis. July 23, '62, disa. ; had suffered from 
typhoid fever, sick a year after return home; served a 
year's enlistment in 61st Mass., becoming Principal Mus.; 
M. O. June 4, '65, ex. of s. ; in 1869, painter, Independence, 
Iowa; d. Mar. 19, 1908. 

Kimball, Stephen B., b. Bennington, Vt.; 22, M.; baker, 

North Adams; June 14, '61; dis. Nov. 8, '62, disa.; later 

served in 3rd Mass. Heavy Artillery; in 1869, baker, 

North Adams; d. July 2, 1905. 
Knapp, Charles I., (Wagoner); 27, S.; teamster. North 

Adams; June 14, '61; M. O. July 1, '64. 
Lanfair, Rodolphus W., b. Clarksburg; 21, M.; teamster. 

North Adams; June 14, '61; dis. Aug. 12, '61, disa.; 

later, Co. D, 61st Mass. ; in 1869, carpenter. North Adams; 

1905, North Adams. Also Langfair. 

Larrabee, John H.; 21, M.; teamster, North Adams; June 14, 
'61; M. O. July 1, '64. 

Leary, Jeremiah; 21, M.; teamster, North Adams; June 14, 
'61; M. O. July 1, '64. 

Long, George; 21, M.; cooper. North Adams; June 14, '61; 
M. O. July 1, '64. 

McArthur, James, (R) ; 18, S.; shoemaker, Adams; Jan, 4, 
'64; trans. June 21, '64, 37th Mass.; trans. June 21, '65, 
20th Mass.; M. O. July 16, '65; was detailed in Brigade 
band. 

Maginley, Thomas; 22, M.; teamster. North Adams; June 
14, '61; wd. ankle, Fair Oaks; re. Dec. 21, '63, cr. 
Colrain; trans. June 21, '64, 37th Mass.; wd. right 



374 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

shoulder, Sept. 19, '64, Winchester; trans. 105th Co., 

2nd Batt., V. R. C; was also in 20th Mass., whence he 

was dis. Sept. 4, '65, Philadelphia; from Fairfield, Pa., 

T. M. writes, Feb. 11, 1908, "I am totally blind and 

have been for nearly five years, but I am as happy as 

ever. — Tom." 
Mallory, John Wesley, (Sergt.), b. Union Village, N. Y.; 34, 

M.; carpenter, North Adams; June 14, '61; k. July 

1, '62, Malvern Hill. 
Maynard, Ethan E., b. Savoy; 22, M.; teamster. North 

Adams; June 14, '61; M. O. Julv 1, '64; in 1869, farmer, 

Plainfield; d. 1900, Adams. 
Millett, Samuel, (R) ; 43, M.; laborer. North Adams; Aug. 

14, '62; d. Mar. 25, '63, Falmouth, Va. 
Millis, Charles H.; 26, M.; mason, North Adams; June 14, 

'61 ; wd. May 31, '62, Fair Oaks; d. Sept. 21, '62, from wds. 
Moon, John; 36, M.; dresser. North Adams; June 14, '61; 

dis. Aug. 2, '62, disa.; d. Jan., 1905, North Adams. 
Nichols, Charles S., b. North Adams; printer, North Adams; 

June 14, '61; dis. April 15, '62, disa.; in '64 served in 

8th Mass.; in 1869, calico printer, North Adams; d. 

1883, Homerville, Ga. 
Osborne, Henry C, vide. Dwyer. 
Perkins, Wm. H., b. South Adams; 25, M.; teamster, Adams; 

June 14, '61; dis. Dec. 25, '62, disa.; later in First N. Y. 

Light Artillery, Battery A; in 1872, Supt. cheese factory. 

South Adams'; d. Aug. 16, 1901, Cheshire. 
Perrv, Alexander; 21, S.; shoemaker, Adams; June 14, '61; 

M. O. July 1, '64. 
Perry, John; 19, M.; shoemaker, Adams; June 14, '61; 

desert. Dec. — , '62. 
Perry, Peter; 28, — ; . Springfield; June 14, '61; ab. 

at M. O. of Reg't.; in 1878, May 2, dis. to June 20, '64, 

O. W. D. 
Pettit, Robert C; 21, M.; painter, Adams; June 14, '61; re. 

Dec. 21, '63, cr. Agawam; trans. June 21, '64, 37th Mass.; 

trans. June 21, '65, 20th Mass.; M. O. Julv 16, '65; in 

1908, Manchester, N. H. 
Pike, Charles N., b. North Adams; 20, S.; hostler, Adams; 

June 14, '61; at Harrison's Landing, July. '62, detailed 

to drive private carriage for General McClellan and 

thereafter enjoyed the unique distinction of being driver 



COJIPANY B 



375 




J. A. SHERMAN, 
\VM. H. BROWN, 



R. C. PETTIT, 



C. N. PIKE, 

T. J. MAGINLEY. 



for Burnside, Hooker, Meade and Grant, serving in this 
capacity till end of enlistment; M. O. July 1, '64; later 
was in Christian Commission for a while, was engineer in 
train yard at Burkesville Jc, Va., and again had the 
private carriage of the commanding general till the end 
of the war, not reaching home till the fall of '65; in 1909, 
contractor and builder, North Adams. 

Pike, John W.; 21, M.; teamster, Adams; June 14, '61; wd. 
thigh, June 4, '64, Cold Harbor; M. O. July 1, '64; rep. 
d. 1903. 

Porteh, Patrick, b. Ireland; 20, M.; carder, Adams; June 
14, '61; M. O. July 1, '64; in June, '66, en. regular army 
and died the next year in Little Rock, Ark. 

Reilly, John; 21, M.; teamster, Adams; wd. Salem Heights, 
May 3, '63, also in leg. Wilderness, May, '64; M. O. 
July 1, '64; d. about 1904, Adams. 



376 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

Rice, Wilson W.; 21, M.; teamster, Adams; June 14, '61; 
trans. April 12, '63, 12th U. S. Infantry. 

Roberts, Albert, b. Cooperstown, N. Y.; 19, M.; lamp maker, 
Adams; June 14, '61; k. May 31, '62, Fair Oaks. 

Robinson, John C, b. North Adams; 21, M.; June 14, '61; 
dis. Aug. 27, '62, for Com. First Lieut., 37th Mass; later 
Captain and bvt. Major; in 1873, printer, San Francisco, 
Cal. ; in 1907, Lorena, Idaho. 

Rouse, Ashbel W., b. Chesterfield, N. H.; 34, M.; dresser, 
Adams; June 14, '61; Corp. April 1, '62; Sergt., July 1, 
'62; re. Dec. 21, '63; trans. June 21, '64, 37th Mass.; 
trans. June 21, '65, 20th Mass.; M. 0. July 16, '65; in 
1869, carpenter, North Adams; d. Sept. 24, 1885, Wil- 
liam stown. 

Sandford, Merritt S., b. Readsboro, Vt.; 20, S.; teamster, 
Adams; June 14, '61; re. Dec. 21, '63, cr. Longmeadow; 
trans, as Corp., June 21, '64, 37th Mass.; trans. June 21, 
'65, 20th Mass.; M. O. July 16, '65; rep. d. 1905 in the 
West. 

Savage, Richard, b. West Stockbridge; 18, M.; — — , Adams; 
June 14, '61; dis Dec. 31, '62, disa.; later 1st Mass. Cav.; 
prom. Corp. and Sergt.; wd. May 16, July 28, and Sept. 
16, '64; in 1869, machinist. North Adams; d. about 

1888, Adams. 

Shaftoe, William, b. Paterson, N. J. ; 38, M. ; spinner, Adams; 

June 14, '61; dis. as Sergt., Aug. 12, '61; later served 

adventurous enlistments in the 31st and 57th Mass. 

regiments; in 1873, overseer, in cotton mill, Holyoke; 

in 1908, Fall River, 85 years old. 
Sheldon, James W. ; 21, S.; mason, Adams; June 14, "61; re. 

Jan. 20, '64; trans. June 21, '64, 37th Mass.; trans. 

June 21, '65, 20th Mass.; M. O. July 16, '65; d. Jan. 3, 

1889, North Adams. 

Sherman, Edward E.; 19, S. ; teamster, Adams; June 14, '61; 
d. Oct. 14, '61, Columbia Hosp., D. C; bur. in Savoy, 
his old home. 

Sherman, George H., b. New Bedford; 21, S.; teamster, 
Adams; June 14, '61; Corp., Mar. 22, '62; Sergt., April 
11, '63; M. O. July 1, '64; later declined Com. as Second 
Lieut., 61st Mass.; in 1869, brass molder, Stamford, 
Conn.; in 1908, Yonkers, N. Y. 

Sherman, Joshua A., (R), b. Savoy; 21, M.; farmer, Boston; 



Company B 377 

Oct. 29, '61; wd. May 31, '62, Fair Oaks, was hit simul- 
taneously in "left leg and right ankle; dis. Dec. 23, '62, 
disa., Alexandria, Va.; has resided in Shelburne Falls, 
Illinois, Stamford, Conn., Paterson, N. J., Adams and 
Savoy where he was Postmaster; for a year had charge 
of the George Junior Republic for Boys in Litchfield, 
Conn.; in 1907, Justice of the Peace, Savoy Centre. 

Silkworth, Melvin; 24, S.; tailor, Adams; June 14, '61; dis. 
Aug. 3, '62; letter, War Dep't., Dec. 28, 1906; d. Dec. 
16, 1907, Carthage, N. Y. 

Sinotte. John; 31, S.; miller, Adams; June 14, '61; M. O. 
July'l, '64. 

Slatterly, William; 24, S.; teamster, Adams; June 14, '61; 

desert. June 20, '63. 
^nuth, Warren M.; 21, S.; carder, Adams; June 14, '61; re. 

" Jan. 20, '64; trans. June 21, '64, 37th Mass.; trans. 
June 21, '65, 20th Mass.; M. O. July 16, '65; in 1909, 
No. Adams. 

Stafford, John W., (R) ; 22, — ; , Clarksburg; July 15, 

'62; desert. June 14, '63; the saine name is borne as 

desert. Co. G, 34th Mass. 
Stillings, Nicholas; 34, S.; gun maker, Adams; June 14, '61; 

dis. May 18, '62, disa.; dead. 
Towle, John H., b. Windsor; 21, S. ; farmer, Savoy; June 

14, '61; wd. left thigh, July 1, Malvern Hill; captured 

and sent to Richmond; exchanged July 25, '62; dis. 

Dec. 29, '62, disa.; in 1872, shoemaker. North Adams; 

in 1908, retired. North Adams. 
Van Valkenburgh, Charles; 20, S.; miller, Adams; June 14, 

'61; re. Dec. 21, '63; trans. June 21, '64, 37th Mass.; 

trans. June 21, '65, 20th Mass.; M. O. July 16, '65; d. 

Mar., 1905; dropped from rolls, N. S. H., Davton, Ohio, 

1890. 
Walker, Ephraim; 30, S.; -, Adams; June 14, '61; 

left Reg't., Springfield; N. F. R. 
Walker, Francis; 26, M.; teamster, Adams; June 14, '61; 

wd. hand. May 3, '63, Salem Heights; re. Dec. 21, '63, 

cr. Longmeadow; trans. June 21, '64, 37th Mass.; trans. 

June 21, '65, 20th Mass.; M. O. July 16, '65; rep. d. 1904. 
Walker, John H.; 25, M.; teamster, Williamstown; June 14, 

'61; re. Dec. 21, '63, cr. Longmeadow; wd. groin. May 

12, '64; trans. June 21, '64, 37th Mass.; trans. June 21, 



378 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

'65, 20th Mass.; M. O. July 16, '65; as his name does 

not appear on rolls of the 20th he was probably dis. 

from hosp. 
Wallace, James W., (R) ; 22, M.; laborer, Colrain; Aug. 29, 

'62; M. O. July 1, '64. 
Wallace, John, (R), b. Colrain; 25, M.; laborer, Colrain; 

Aug. 29, '62; wd. right arm, Fredericksburg; M. O. July 

1, '64; in 1869, farmer, South Halifax, Vt. 
Wells, David W., (Sergt.), b. Pittsfield; 23, S.; bookkeeper, 

Adams; June 14, '61; prom. Second Lieut. 
Wells, Sereno W.; 26, M.; spinner, Adams; June 14, '61; 

desert. Aug. 11, '63; d.; bur. North Adams. 
Wilbur, Jeremiah; 24, M.; teamster, Adams; June 14, '61; 

dis. Aug. 8, '61, disa. 
Wiley, Cincinnatus C, b. Monroe; 21, M.; shingle maker, 

Adams; June 14, '61; Corp.. Oct. 17, '62; wd. May 5, 

'64, Wilderness; M. O. July 1, '64; in 1869, farmer and 

lumberer. North Adams; in 1908, hotel and lumber man, 

North Dakota. 
Wilev, Silas; 36, M.; shingle maker, Adams; June 14, '61; 

ic. May 31, '62, Fair Oaks. 
Williams, Samuel P.; 21, — ; , Springfield; June 21, 

'61; in hosp. dep't. entire term of service; M. O. July 1, 

'64; in 1875, Springfield. 
Wilsey, Buel G. ; 20, S.; weaver, Adams; June 14, '61; k. 

July 1. '62, Malvern Hih. 
Yaw, Wallace, (R), b. Florida; 34, S.; teamster. North 

Adams; Aug. 29, '61; d. Knight General Hosp., New 

Haven, Conn., July 15, '63. Also "York." 

COMPANY C, NORTHAMPTON 

For many years, Northampton had been the headquarters 
of one of the oldest companies in the active militia of the 
Commonwealth. Chartered June 20, 1801, Company C was 
one day more than sixty years old when mustered into the 
service of the United States. When the call came, the com- 
pany was under the command of Captain Wm. R. Marsh 
who was to be the first Major of the Regiment. It was a 
happy coincidence that the new organization should bear the 
same numeral as the old militia regiment and Company C 
retained its long time letter and, being the very first company 



Co.MPAXY C 379 

in Hampshire county to volunteer, it naturally drew to itself 
the best of the young patriots of that part of the State. 

On the evening of April 18th, when other sons of Massachu- 
setts were resting in Philadelphia, preparatory to the famous 
march through Baltimore, the first meeting of Company C 
was called in the armory. So large was the attendance, it 
was found necessary, after organizing, to adjourn to the 
town hall. Wm. B. Hale had been chosen chairman and Dr. 
C. N. Chamberlain, Secretary, before leaving the armory, 
and timely remarks had been made by Captain Marsh, D. G. 
Littlefield, Dr. Chamberlain, Dr. Brown of Williamsburg and 
others. After reaching the town hall, Erastus Hopkins, 
Justin Thayer, R. R. Mayers, James Ellsworth and D. G. 
Littlefield were made a committee to solicit funds for the 
arming and equipping of the soldiers who should go from 
Northampton. Erastus Hopkins who was to furnish a Lieut. 
Colonel of a later regiment (31st) in the person of his son, 
W. S. B., was called upon and responded in a fervent speech, 
pertinent to the time and place. Dr. Harvey E. Brown was 
again called upon and again spoke eloquently. The son of Col. 
Harvey E. Brown of the regular army, his remarks were all 
the more appreciated, vowing as he did to give his services 
to the Government. The doctor kept his word for in the 
following June he became Ass't. Surgeon of the 70th N. Y. 
and, later. Surgeon in the regular army, remaining through 
the war and attaining the rank of Major. He died Aug. 20, 
1889. The meeting resulted in about forty names upon the 
enlistment roll. 

Military meetings were quite the order of the day or evening 
and Friday night, the 26th, Rev. Mr. Eddy was present, and 
gave a patriotic talk. Northampton pulpits resounded with 
sentiments of patriotism, and great audiences assembled to 
hear the several ministers of the town. Nor were the ladies 
backward in their efforts to aid, since seventy-five of them 
met in the town hall as early as the 24th of April and volun- 
teered to make the uniforms for the soldiers. Miss Elizabeth, 
daughter of the Hon. Samuel F. Lyman presided and it was 
resolved to proceed to work as soon as material should arrive. 
The very afternoon of this meeting the cloth arrived and they 
went to work at once, cutting out and making the garments. 
Some of the women carried their work home with them, others 
sewed in the town hall. Poets too, were in evidence, and May 
3, William Allen, son of a soldier who had fought at Ben- 
nington, addressed several stanzas, written in the measure of 



380 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

the Star Spangled Banner, to Captain Marsh, the aged writer 
regretting that almost four score years prevented his aiding 
the cause in a more effective manner. 

May 9th, Company C with full ranks undertook a little 
practical military labor in the shape of a march to Williams- 
burg, seven miles to the northwest, where the men encamped 
over night and returned the next day. The route w^as through 
a populous region and every one was out to see the soldiers. 
At Florence, they were met by a delegation of citizens 
headed by Messrs. Parsons and Littlefield, having with them 
the Florence brass band to whose rhythmic notes the march 
was made to the common, near the residence of Mr. I. S. 
Parsons where the villagers had prepared a bountiful collation. 
D. G. Littlefield in glowing words welcomed the soldiers to 
the feast, while the men themselves cheered the people, the 
band, and ate heartily of the viands offered. Led by the 
band, the company marched down the river road to the 
water-cure establishment of Dr. Munde. The latter had been 
a colonel in the Hungarian army, a fellow patriot with Kossuth, 
and the youthful soldiers cheered the old one to the echo. 
Courteously declining the doctor's invitation to enter his 
house, the men marched under his large and handsome flag 
and proceeded on their way, halting in front of the house of 
Julius Phelps where they parted froin the band, sending the 
musicians off with rousing cheers. 

At Leeds, the enthusiasm of Florence was repeated and 
Haydenville was found all astir. Again came a brass band 
and the people in line, led by Captain Alvin Fisher, all of 
whom escorted the visitors, with the firing of cannon and the 
waving of flags, into the village. A great assemblage of 
residents and friends from the vicinity vied with each other 
in welcoming the men in uniform. Again feasting was in 
order, for on a grass plot, south of the old store, tables had 
been set and covered with a wide range of toothsome food. 
Hot coffee and cider (at that season of the year it must have 
been a trifle hard) were distributed freely, nor were speeches 
wanting. Dr. Trow spoke warm words of welcome, not only 
expressing the devotion of his fellow citizens, but urging his 
listeners to promptly avenge the recent slaughter in the 
streets of Baltimore. Following the feast, the men marched 
through the principal streets and sang popular songs to the 
delight of great throngs of people. 

At half past three, Haydenville was left behind and the 
road to Williamsburg was taken, under the escort of the 



Company C 381 

Haydenville band and many of the people. All along the 
route the people were awake to the scene and nowhere was 
enthusiasm lacking. Some distance away from Williamsburg, 
they were met by a company of horsemen under whose lead, 
at half past four, still accompanied by the Haydenville band 
and people, the soldiers entered the village. They marched 
up Williams Street to Thayer's factory, thence down Main 
Street, halting in front of Colonel Wood's hotel. Once more 
a considerable portion of Hampshire's people were visible 
and all, seemingly, had provided themselves with flags. 
Tents were pitched on the elevation, owned by Capt. C. A. 
Williams, southwest of the hotel, the big cannon was stationed 
near and from a pole, erected that very morning by the young 
men of the village, a large flag was floating. The citizens 
had named the combination, "Camp Butler." 

Evidently the people did not intend that these embryonic 
soldiers should go hungry for again they were invited to eat, 
this time at tables set in the town hall under the direction of 
Colonel Wood and to the food provided in abundance the 
visitors did ample justice. Then came the first experience in 
regular camp duties, as the placing of guards and the mainten- 
ance of order and discipline. Friday morning at six o'clock, 
the men breakfasted in the town hall, the divine blessing 
being invoked by the Rev. J. M. Phillips, w^ho after the meal 
and a two hours' drill on Main Street, addressed the company 
drawn up in front of the hotel. His remarks which were 
timely, forceful and patriotic, were heard with pleasure by the 
men and were loudly applauded. Then came cheers for the 
Company by the people and the "boys" answered back with 
equally hearty cheers for the good old town of Williamsburg. 

After Captain Marsh had thanked the people for their 
hospitality, accompanied by the booming of the cannon at 
Camp Butler, Company C marched out of the village on its 
return trip. Again Haydenville was ready to receive the 
Company and again its hospitality was tested, and after a 
rest of an hour or more, the men started for their rendezvous, 
by way of the old road. Half past one in the afternoon 
brought them to Florence where a rest of two hours was 
enjoyed in the grove near the new church where refreshments 
were furnished by Messrs. Parsons, Littlefield, Whitehouse 
and others. Thence proceeding homeward, they were met 
at four o'clock, at the upper end of Elm Street, by the North- 
ampton band and escorted into town where, on Main Street, 
there was a large assemblage of people who had gathered to 



382 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

witness the presentation of a Testament and Psalms to each 
member by the Sunday School children of the town. The 
Rev. Dr. Eddy spoke for the children in a highly appropriate 
manner and to his words Captain Marsh replied in equally 
significant terms. Other speakers were Lieut. Parsons of 
the Company and the Rev. Mr. Hall who also spoke for the 
young people and their gifts. 

The election of officers by the members of Company C 
came on the 22d of May, and resulted in the election of Cap- 
tain, Wm. R. Marsh; First Lieutenant, Jos. B. Parsons; 
Second Lieut., J. D. Kellogg, Jr.; Third Lieut., J. R. Hillman; 
Fourth Lieut., Charles H. Brewster. The Company voted 
unanimously to enlist for three years or the war. As J. D. 
Kellogg, Jr., just elected third officer, could not leave for that 
length of time, he was honorably discharged and later Flavel 
Shurtleff was elected to his place. Friday evening. May 24th, 
under command of Lieut. Parsons, Company C visited Flor- 
ence to participate in a flag raising. As formerly, there went 
forth the citizens and the band, and again there were refresh- 
ments in abundance. Then came the flag raising, across the 
street from the store of Parsons and Co., followed by speeches 
by Messrs. Littlefield, Dr. Munde, J. B. Whitehouse, A. T. 
Lilly and James Flood. Lieut. Parsons thanked the people 
for their kindness to his men, after which an oath was taken 
by them to "protect the flag at all times, under all circum- 
stances and at every hazard." After an exchange of cheers 
by populace and soldiers, the latter marched back to town, 
accompanied by the band. As they were coming down the 
hill, near the Mansion House, they were met by the Young 
Home Guard, commanded by Captain Luke Lyman, and 
escorted to their armory where patriotic songs were sung to 
the evident enjoyment of all. 

Monday, June 3d, Captain Marsh received the following 
order from the Adjutant-General: 

COMMOXWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS, 

Headquarters, Boston, May 31, 1S61. 
Special Order, No. 277. 
Sir: — The offer of the company under your command to 
enter the service of the United States, as volunteers, under 
the general order No. 12, of May 22, 1861, has been accepted, 
and the company is hereby designated as one of those in a 
regiment to be formed of companies raised in the counties of 
Berkshire, Franklin, Hampshire and Hampden. 



CoMP.\.\Y C 383 

You will receive herewith an enlistment roll which you will 
have filled up and returned to headquarters, without delay, 
observing that the roll is not to contain more than seventy-nine 
names. The company will be hereafter filled up to one hun- 
dred and one, by enlistments from other companies, to be 
designated. The regimental and company officers will be 
appointed when the companies are mustered into the service 
of the United States, to which duty an officer of the United 
States army will attend with the least possible delay. 

You will receive orders as to the place and time, at which 
the company is to report, to be mustered into the service. 

By order of His Excellency, John A. Andrew, Governor and 
Commander-in-chief. 

William Schouler, Adjutant-General, 
Per Harrison Ritchie, Lieut. -Colonel and A. D.C. 
To Captain William R. Marsh, Northampton. 

Everybody was glad to get the order and preparations for 
departure were at once begun. June 10th a farewell ball was 
given in the town hall and a hundred couples tripped the 
"light fantastic" while "bright the lamps shone o'er fair 
women and brave men." On the 12th came orders for the 
Company to report in Springfield on the 14th, and if possible, 
military manoeuvers were executed more brilliantly than ever, 
with the certainty of leaving being so near. Unfortunately, 
just before departing, they were compelled to contribute 
their muskets to men nearer ready than themselves, down 
Boston way. Thursday, the 13th, the last day in Hampshire 
county was devoted to home-seeking and leave-taking. Very 
likely' Northampton had never seen a more interesting sight 
than that of the 14th when Main Street was thronged with 
her citizens, assembled to see their boys away. Before the 
war was done, they grew used to it, but the scene never lost 
its pangs of parting. There were the Deluge Fire Engine 
company, several of whose members were in the ranks, the 
Hatfield brass band, the Young Home Guard, some forty in 
number, headed by the Florence band, all of whom proceeded 
down the street to the front of the Court House, followed 
by Sheriff Longley and his deputies in uniform; also present 
were Samuel F. Lyman, Judge of Probate, and Samuel Wells, 
Clerk of Courts. Before a line, formed in front of the First 
Church, the Company passed, receiving a tribute from all 
beholders. Thence they marched on to the town hall and so to 
the station followed by the cheers and flag-waving of the 
great array of people. 



384 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

So crowded were the streets, there was scant space for the 
soldiers to pass, but it was a good-natured assembly and so 
all went merrily. Halting near the depot, on the west side, 
friends thronged about the men to say the final "Good-byes." 
Soon after eleven o'clock, came the regular train from the 
north, bearing the companies from Shelburne and Greenfield 
and with Northampton's joined, the train proceeded on its 
way to Springfield, the happy occupants of the cars making 
them ring with patriotic airs, sung to the accompaniment of 
Fred Hoffman's accordeon. On reaching Springfield, preceded 
by the Hatfield band. Company C marched down Main Street, 
halted in front of the Republican office, cheered the loyal 
press and thence marched to Hampden Park, getting there 
about one o'clock, and the men turned at once into their 
barracks, where they bunked in squads of eight or ten men 
each. All sorts of fanciful names were given the various 
squads and the place reserved for the officers was even denomi- 
nated "St. Nicholas." At six in the afternoon, the Company 
saw the band to the depot and the day's work was done. 

On the 17th of June, a town meeting was held in Northamp- 
ton, attended by less than one hundred voters of which 
Charles Delano was moderator and to which Osmyn Baker 
made a lengthy report of the work of the committee appointed 
to disburse the money appropriated by the town for military 
purposes. There had been expended $3,310 out of the $10,000 
appropriated and, as there seemed to be no probability of 
the remainder being used as originally expected, it was voted 
to apply the sum to the regular tax. While there was some 
discussion over the payment of certain bills, incurred in the 
raising and maintaining of the Company, the selectmen were 
finally directed to pay all bills that to them seemed reasonable. 
It was also voted to buy a rubber blanket for each member 
of the local company. Though many of the men had, nomi- 
nally, enlisted nearly two months before, the date, June 21st, 
is given on the State House rolls as that of enlistment as well 
as muster-in. 

(For full explanation of abbreviations, see page 332.) 
COMMISSIONED OFFICERS 

CAPTAINS 

Joseph B. Parsons, b. Northampton; 33, M.; farmer, North- 
ampton; June 21, '61; wd. head and thigh. May 31, '62, 
Fair Oaks; prom. Lieut. Colonel. 



Company C 385 

James H. Wetherell, Sept. 8, '62; wd. May 12, '64, Spottsyl- 
vania; d. of wds., June 20, '64, Georgetown, D. C; bur. 
from the Edwards Church, Northampton, June 26, with 
Masonic rites at the grave. So nearly did the death of 
Capt. Wetherell coincide with the M. 6. of the Regiment, 
many of his fellow officers and men were present at his 
funeral. 

FIRST LIEUTENANTS 

James H. Wetherell, b. Northampton; 33, M.; laborer, 
Northampton; June 21, '61; having been an active 
member of the fire department, on July 4, '61, he was 
given a beautiful dress sword by Deluge Engine company, 
the presentation being made by Wm. Turner, Esq.; 
prom. Captain. 

Charles H. Brewster, Sept. 29, '62; appointed Adjutant, 
"^^ Dec, '62. 

Edwin M. Whitnev, from First Sergt., Nov. 26, '62; was staff 
officer for a while in '64; wd. left foot. May 18, '64, 
Spottsvlvania; M. O. July 1, '64; in '69, jeweller, Attle- 
boro Falls; Overseer of the Poor, 3 years; in Legislature, 
House, '89, '90; in 1908, 21 Towne St., Attleboro Falls. 

SECOND LIEUTENANTS 

Flavel Shurtleft', b. Pawtuxet, R. I.; 32, M.; hosp. nurse, 

Northampton; June 21, '61; prom. First Lieut., (A). 
Charles H. Brewster, Dec. 5, '61; prom. First Lieut. 
Willard L Bishop, Aug. 9, '62; prom. First Lieut., (A). 
Edward H. Graves, from Q. M. Sergt., Nov. 3, '62; prom. 

First Lieut., (K). 
Charles H. Knapp, trans, from (A), June 1, '64, and was in 

command of Company at M. O.; in 1908, Engmeer, Fire 

Dept. Holyoke. 

NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS AND PRIVATES 

Abbott, James H., b. Hatfield; 20, S.; farmer, Hatfield; 

June 21, '61; k. as Sergt., May 12, '64, Spottsylvania. 
Allen, William B., (R), b. Springfield; 35, — ; confectioner, 

Northampton; Mar. 19, '62; prom. Q. M. Sergt., Nov. 

3, '62. 



386 



The Tenth Massachusetts Ikfantry 




CAPT. W. I. BISHOP, LIEUT. EDWIN M. WHITNEY, 

MYRON P. WALKER, 
1ST. SERG'T. S. S. WILLIAMS, FRANK C. PARK. 



Atwood, Charles H., b. Pittsfield; 20, S.; farmer, Belcher- 
town; June 21, '61; wd. foot, May 31, '62, Fair Oaks; 
dis. Sept. 21. '62, disa. 

Ball, Nelson O., b. Amherst; 22, S.; blacksmith, Amherst; 
June 21, '61; re. Dec. 21, '63; wd. knee. May 12, '64, 
Spottsvlvania; trans, as Corp., June 21, '64, 37th Mass.; 
trans. Feb. 2, '65, V. R. C; M. O. July 16, '65; dead. 

Bannerot, Constant E., b. Germany; 22, S.; laborer, North- 
ampton; June 21, '61; k. as'Sergt., May 3, '63, Salem 
Heights, Va. 

Bardwell, Charles L., b. Hatfield; 33, S.; laborer, Hatfield; 



Company C 387 

June 14, '61; dis. Aug. 16, '62, disa.; in 1873, painter, 
Northampton. 

Barrett, Benton, b. Belchertown; 24, M.; farmer, Belcher- 
town; June 21, '61; M. 0. July 1, '64; d. Michigan. 

Barrows, Wm. R., b. Mansfield, Conn.; 42, M.; farmer, 
Belchertown, June 21, '61; dis. Oct. 2, '61, disa. 

Benson, Charles, b. Belchertown; 18, — ; confectioner, 
Springfield; June 14, '61; M. O.July 1, '64; also found as 
"missing since May 12, '64;" d. prisoner, Andersonville. 

Bigelow, Charles H., b. Deerfield; 36, M.; painter, Northamp- 
ton; June 14, '61; re. Dec. 21, '63; trans. June 21, '64, 
37th Mass.; trans. June 21, '65, 20th Mass.; M. O. 
July 16, '65; d. 1895. 

Bishop, Willard I., (Sergt.), b Littleton, N. H.; 25, M.; 
telegrapher, Northampton; June 21, '61; First Sergt. 
' Dec. 5, '61; wd. May 31, '62, Fair Oaks; prom. Second 
Lieut; in '56-'58, resided in Georgia and was a member of 
the Georgia "State Volunteers;" in 1908, station agent. 
North Hatfield, Mass. 

BHss, George S., (Corp.), b. Northampton; 21, S.; clerk, 
Northampton; June 21, '61; dis. Nov. 8, '62, as Sergt. for 
Com., Captain, 52nd Mass.; k. Port Hudson, La., July 
14, '63; bur. Northampton. 

Boise, Frank E., b. Canada; 18, S.; paper-maker, Northamp- 
ton; June 21, '61; trans. Navy, Sept. 30, '62; dis. from 
the Lexington, Sept. 25, '63; rec'd medal for gallant 
conduct in the service. 

Braman, James H., (Sergt.), b. Northampton; 21, S.; iron 
founder, Northampton; June 21, '61; k. May 31, '62, 
Fair Oaks; a member of Deluge Engine company, he was 
one of the first to enlist; bur. Northampton. 

Brew, Michael, b. Ireland; 18, S.; carriage trimmer, Belcher- 
town; June 21, '61; wd. head and arm. May 31, '62, 
Fair Oaks; re. Dec. 21, '63, cr. South Hadley; wd. 
Mav 5, '64, Wilderness; trans. June 21, '64, 37th Mass.; 
trans. June 21, '65, 20th Mass.; M. O. July 16, '65; in 
1869, carriage trimmer, Boston, member Post 26, G. A. R. 

Brewster, Charles H., (First Sergt.), b. Northampton; 27, S.; 
clerk, Northampton; June 21, '61; prom. Second Lieut.; 
had been in the State Militia. 

Brown, Henry A. (Corp.), b. Whately; 24, M.; April 19, 
'61; Sergt., Aug. 8, '61; prom. Second Lieut., Co. K; 
1909, Delta, Ohio. 



388 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

Bullard, Wm. H., b. Ashuelot, N. H.; 20, S.; machinist, 
Northampton; June 21, '61; dis. Oct. 22, '62, disa.; 
later in Co. E, 1st Mass. Cav.; M. O. June 26, '65. 

Burby, Henry C; 22, — ; operator, Ballston Spa, N. Y.; 
June 21, "'61; wd. July 1, '62, Malvern Hill; letter W. D. 
says, "dis. from Hosp., '64." 

Clark, Allen S.; 28, — ; , Northampton; June 21, '61; 

town record says, "dis. for disa., since dead." 

Clark, Frederick W., b. Northampton; 20, M.; paper-maker, 
Northampton; June 21, '61; wd. July 1, '62, Malvern 
Hill; dis. Oct. 17, '62, disa.; d. 1908.' 

Clark, John C, b. Hadley; 23, S.; broom-maker, Hadley; 
June 21, '61; wd. May 12, '64, Spottsylvania; d. from 
wds.. May 21, '64, White House Landing; bur. May 28, 
Hadley; one of the first to enlist from Hadley. 

Clark, John P., b. Conway; 21, S.; mechanic, Conway; for 
some time was armorer while the Regiment was at 
Brightwood; M. O. July 1, '64; later in Co. B, 61st 
Mass.; M. 0. June 16, '65; in 1873, Hartford, Conn. 

Coburn, Joseph P., (Corp.), b. Bethel, Vt. ; 37, M. ; tool-maker, 
Williamsburg; June 21, '61; wd. head, Spottsylvania; 
M. O. as Sergt., July 1, '64; was Color-Sergt. ; d.'l896. 

Coleman, Perry M., b. Southampton; 24, S.; carpenter, 
Southampton; June 21, '61; k. May 31, '62, Fair Oaks; 
he was the first to enlist from his town and the first to 
fall; his body, at first bur. on the field, was later brought 
home and was bur. in Southampton, June 18, '62. 

Converse, Danforth; 21, — ; , Northampton; June 

21, '61; N. F. R. 

Cook, John H., b. Northampton; 20, S.; clerk, Northampton; 
June 21, '61; dis. July 17, '62, disa.; later, Second Lieut. 
57th Mass.; wd. abdomen, Petersburg, July 21, '64; 
dis. Dec. 7, '64, as First Lieut., disa.; bvt. Capt. and 
Major, Mar. 13, '65; in 1873, clerk, Custom House, 
Boston; d. 1893. 

Cooper, Henry W., b. North Adams; 22, S.; wool-sorter. 
Northampton; June 21, '61; M. O. July 1, '64. Also 
Coope and Coopee. 

Cornwell, Norman S., (R), b. Middletown, Conn.; 23, M.; 
book-binder, Northampton; Oct. 18, '61; re. Dec. 21, 
'63; wd. foot. May 2, '64, Wilderness; in two days, foot 
amputated, field hosp.; two weeks in "old mill," Freder- 



COIMPANY C 389 

icksburg, thence to Knight's Gen'l. Hosp., New Haven; 
there three months; on way to Readville, Mass., train 
derailed near New London, nineteen soldiers killed out- 
right, and several wounded, among them Private Corn- 
well; finally dis., Jan. 7, '65, from Dale Gen'l. Hosp., 
Worcester, as a member of Co. G, 37th Mass.; in 1872, 
book-binder, Northampton; d. 1898. 

Crow, Andrew, b. Montgomery; 38, — ; mechanic, Chester; 
June 21, '61; dis. Mar. 20, '63, disa.; later, in Co. I, 3rd 
Mass. Heavy Artillery. 

Daniels, Henry, b. New London, Conn.; 21, S.; machinist, 
Northampton; June 21, '61; wd. ankle, May 3, '63, 
Salem Heights; wd. hand. Wilderness; captured at 
Spottsylvania and held four days, escaping by negro's 
aid; wd. thigh. Cold Harbor; M.' O. July 1, 64; in 1873, 
Northampton; drowned, 1884. 

Davis, Charles H., b. Brattleboro, Vt. ; 21, S. ; printer, Albany, 
N. Y.; June 21, '61; dis. Aug. 8, '61, disa. 

Day, Lewis, (Sergt.), b. Northampton; 25, M.; farmer, 
Northampton; June 21, '61; dis. Oct. 28, '61, disa.; 
d. 1897. 

Dodge, Charles S., (R), b. Brimfield; 25, S.; nurse, Northamp- 
ton; Sept. 7, '61; wd. leg, July 1, '62, and left in hands 
of enemy ; trans. Mar. 22, '64, V. R. C. 

Draper, Lorenzo, b. Spencer; 22, M.; shoemaker, Buckland; 
June 21, '61; dis. Mar. 27, '62, disa; later, in 52nd Mass.; 
M. O. as Sergt., Aug. 15, '63; in 1869, kept livery stable, 
Amherst; Since d. 

Dunnakin, Charles, b. South Hadley; 23, S.; farmer, Am- 
herst; June 21, '61; M. O. July i, '64; later in Hancock's 
Veteran Volunteers. 

Dunnakin, Henry A., b. Hadley; 23, S.; broom-maker, 
Hadlev; June 21, '61; re. Dec. 21, '63; trans. June 21, 
'64, 37th Mass.; trans. June 21, '65, 20th Mass.; M. O. 
July 16, '65; in 1869, painter Northampton; d. S. H., 
May 17, 1891. 

Edwards, Charles S., b. Northampton; 23, S.; June 21, '61; 
re. Dec. 21, '63; trans. June 21, '64, 37th Mass.; wd. 
right shoulder, Sept. 19, '64, Winchester; trans. June 
21, '65; 20th Mass.; M. O. July 16, '65; in 1873, North- 
ampton; 1909, Hartford, Conn. 



390 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

Elmer, Levi, (R), b. Ashfield; 18, S.; farmer, Ashfield; 

Sept. 10, '61; dis. Feb. IS, '62, disa. 
Ely, William; 18, S.; printer, Northampton; July 24, '61; 

town report savs, "dis. disa. and re. in 37th Mass.; dis. 

June 21, '65." ' 
Endicott, Lewis F., b. Salem; 23, S.; clerk, Northampton; 

June 21, '61; trans. Oct. 7, '63, Signal Corps; re. Feb. 

21, '64; dis. Aug. 16, '65; N. F. R. 

Evans, Charles W., (R), b. Hinsdale, N. H.; 18, S.; farmer, 
Northampton; Mar. 31, '62; re. Jan. 20, '62, cr. Hatfield; 
trans. June 21, '64, 37th Mass.; trans. June 21, '65, 20th 
Mass.; M. O. July 16, '65. 

Felton, Samuel, Jr., b. Roxbury; 25, S.; carpenter, Belcher- 
town; June 4, '61; served entire enlistment as brigade 
carpenter; M. O. July 1, '64; in 1869, millwright, 
Worcester; rep. d. 1904. 

Foster, Wm. A. P., (R), b. Boston; 24, S.; farmer, Whately; 
Sept. 1, '61; wd. arm. May 31, '62, Fair Oaks; wd. 
May 5, '64, Wilderness; ab. through wds. at time of 
trans., June 21, '64, 37th Mass.; dis. Dec. 6, '64, ex. of s.; 
d. 1873. 

Goodrich, Frederick M., b. New York City; 20, S.; brass 
finisher, Williamsburg; June 21, '61; d. April 20, '62, 
Warwick Ct. House, Va. 

Gordon, Thomas, 23, S.; baker, Northampton; June 21, '61; 
dis. Aug. 5, '61, disa. 

Graves, Edward H., b. Townshend, Vt.; 21, S.; clerk, 
Brooklyn, N. Y.; June 21, '61; Q. M. Sergt., Oct., '61; 
prom. Second Lieut. 

Graves, Samuel, b. Sunderland; 22, S.; painter, Sunderland; 
June 21, '61; M. O. July 1, '64; in 1873, painter and 
paper hanger, Amherst. 

Guyer. Henrv, b. Newark, N. J.; 22, S.; jeweller, Williams- 
burg; June 21, '61; wd. hand. May 31, '62, Fair Oaks; 
dis. for Com. Second Lieut., Co. F, 13th New Jersey 
Volunteers; prom. First Lieut, and Capt.; M. O. June 8, 
'65; later engaged in mining, Montana and Idaho; in 
1884, went to Chili, South America, and there and in 
Peru followed mining very successfully; finally organized 
and became Vice-Pres. of a company operating in Peru; 
d. May 31, 1907, Lima, Peru; bur. in Bella Vista, the 
English cemetery of that city. 



Company C 



391 




E. M. JOHNSON, 
ALVIN RUST, 



HENRY GUYER, J. R. HOWES AT 20, 

Serg't. J. H. HOWARD, Color Serg't. J. P. COBURN. 



Harris, Judson W., b. Hatfield; 24, S.; carpenter, Hatfield; 
June 21, '61; wd. May, '64, Wilderness; d. from wds., 
as Corp., Sept. 12, '64, Alexandria, Va. 

Hartwell, Francis E., (R), b. Conwav; 19, S.; farmer, Con- 
way; Sept. 7, '61; re. Jan. 20, '64; wd. May, '64, Wilder- 
ness; trans. June 21, '64, 37th Mass.; trans. June 21, '65, 
20th Mass.; M. O. July 16, '65; 1909, Springfield. 

Hillman, Frederick O., b. Williamsburg; 23, S.; tinsmith, 
Williamsburg; June 21, '61; dis. as Sergt., Feb. 8, '63; 
disa.; in 1873, machinist, Haydenville; d. 1881. 

Himes, Ezra, b. New Bedford; 22, S.; baker, Northampton; 
June 21, '61; M. O. as Sergt., July 1, '64; d. S. H., Nov. 
18, 1907; bur. Rural Cem., New Bedford. 

Howard, J. Hervey, b. Chester; 20, S.; laborer, Chester; 
June 21, '61; Corp., '63; Sergt., May 18, '64; M. O. 
July 1, '65; served M. V. M., '66-'67; Capt., Northampton 
Co., '71; since 1885, in general store, Hatfield; Chairman 
Board of Selectmen, '90, '91, '92. 



392 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

Howe, George W., 31, M.; mechanic, Chester; June 21, '61; 
dis. March 17, '63, disa.; in 1873, farmer, Middlefield; 
d. 1895. 

Howes, Charles F., b. Hawlev; 20, S.; musician, Reedsboro, 
Vt.; June 21, '61; dis.' Aug. 9, '62. for Com., 1st Va. 
(loyal) Infty.; prom. First Lieut., 16th W. Va. Infty; M. O. 
June 10, '63; rep. d. 1903. 

Howes, James R., b. Ashfield; 18, S.; June 21, '61; wd. head. 
May 31, '62, Fair Oaks; dis. Jan. 3, '63, disa. from said 
wound ; from '64 a resident of Holyoke ; at first a carpenter ; 
in '72 was Ass't. Supt. for building new City Hall, Hol- 
yoke; from '74, four years, City Messenger; thence 
contractor and builder until 1890; through Civil Service 
examination, rec'd. appointment as State Inspector of 
Factories and Public Buildings, April, '90, and holds the 
office in 1908; member of Kilpatrick Post, No. 71, 
Holyoke; the first and youngest enlisted man from 
the town. 

Hoxie, David E., (R), b. Northampton; 22, S.; carpenter, 
Northampton; Oct. 18, '61; dis. Mar. 20, '63, disa.; 
from '70, several years Secretary, Jerusalem Lodge, F. 
& A. M., Northampton; member Common Council, '88 
and '89; Alderman, '91; member Board of Health, '92- 
'94; member Cemetery committee, '99-'01; connected 
with Mass. Bureau Statistics of Labor in various capaci- 
ties since 1890; Inspector of Census, Hampshire county, 
1905-'07; Cooperative Observer, U. S. Weather Bureau 
and Crop Reporter since 1893; residence, Northampton. 

Hyde, Oliver, b. Belchertown; 23, S.; stable keeper, Belcher- 
town; June 21, '61; M. O. June 21, '64; in 1873, farmer; 
1898, Belchertown. 

Irwin, Samuel, (R); 25, S.; laborer, Longmeadow; Dec. 21, 
'63; d. May 29, '64, of wds. rec'd. May 13, '64, Spottsyl- 
vania; Newell has Irvine. 

Ives, Henry A., b. Haydenville; 24, S.; carpenter, Williams- 
burg; June 21, '61; trans. Battery E, 5th U. S. Artillery, 
Dec. 5, '62; 1909, Goshen. 

James, Frank M., b. Three Rivers; 19, M.; machinist, 
Holyoke; June 21, '61; desert. June 25, '63. 

Jewett, J. Howard, b. Hadley; 18, S.; clerk, Hadley; April 
26, '61; the first volunteer from the town; disa. Mar. 
10, '62, by reason of typhoid fever which sent him to hosp., 



Company C 393 

where, during convalescence, he was detailed for duty as 
clerk at Mount Pleasant and Stone general hospitals 
until July 3, '63, when he was trans, to V. R. C; prom. 
Second Lieut, in V. R. C, Oct. 28, '63; A. A. A. G. on 
staff of First Brigade, V. R. C. and A. A. Q. M. Second 
Brig., V. R. C. and four months was Post Adj., depot 
prisoners of war. Rock Island, 111.; res. July 8, '64; since 
the war, in daily newspaper and magazine journalism 
and authorship, especially in juvenile literature as author 
of some twenty or more volumes of story-books for 
children; also some patriotic and army verse; residence, 
Dec, 1907, New York City; member, Authors' Club. 

Jillson, Manley, b. Pelham; 42, M.; miller, Pelham; June 21, 
'61; dis. Nov. 29, '62, disa.; in 1867, Northampton. 

Johnson, Eben M., b. Amherst; 24, S.; laborer, Amherst; 
wd. right hand. May 31, '62, Fair Oaks, in helping carry 
the body of Captain E. E. Day from the field; re. Jan. 
20, '64, cr. Northampton; trans. June 21, '64, 37th Mass.; 
trans. June 21, '65, 20th Mass.; M. O. July 16, '65; in 
1869, farmer, Northampton; d. 1900, Amherst. 

Kellogg, George W., b. Northampton; 26, S.; machinist, 
Northampton; June 21, '61; M. O. July 1, '64; in 1907, 
N. S. H., Togus, Me. 

Kennedy, Martin, (R) ; 22, S.; bootmaker, Ashland; cr. 
Boston; Dec. 8, '63; wd. leg. May 12, '64, Spottsvlvania; 
trans. June 21, '64, 37th Mass.; trans. June 21, '65, 20th 
Mass.; dis. June 20, '65, ex. of s. 

Kingsley, Calvin B., b. Northampton; 22, S.; farmer, North- 
ampton; June 21, '61; wd. July 1, '62, Malvern Hill; 
Sergt., Mar. 3, '63; dis. April 21, '63, disa.; in 1869, 
farmer, Northampton; d. Jan. 1905. 

Kingsley, P. Wellington, b. Williamsburg; 35, M.; plane- 
maker, Williamsburg; June 21, '61; M. O. July 1, '64; 
d. 1904. 

Kingsley, Wm. M., b. Philadelphia, Pa.; 20, S.; musician, 
Northampton; June 21, '61; wd. both legs. May 31, '62, 
Fair Oaks; prom. Chief Bugler, June 2, '63; d. 1904. 

Leach, Forace, b. Belchertown; 25, S.; engineer. Belcher- 
town; June 21, '61; M. O. as Corp., July 1, '64; in 1873, 
in Belchertown; d. 1897. 

Lee, Frank Wm., b. Gill; 22, S.; shoemaker, Buckland; 



394 



The Texth Massachusetts Infanthv 




D. E. HOXIE, 
C. B. KINGSLEY, 



PRIN. MUS. W. M. KINGSLEY, 
OLIVER HYDE. 



June 21, '61; wd. in face and neck, and spine injured, 
May 31, '62, Fair Oaks; dis. Nov. 29, '62, disa.; in 1869, 
bootmaker, Westfield; 1908, Huntington. 

Loomis, Joshua A., b. Goshen; 22, S. ; brass-finisher, Williams- 
burg; June 21, '61; dis. Aug. 27, '62, for Com. First 
Lieut., 37th Mass.; Captain, June 4, '63; wd. near 
Winchester, Va., and dis. Nov. 19, '64, on account of wds.; 
in 1908, druggist in Easthampton. 

Lovett, Patrick, (R), 38, M.; laborer, Northampton; Nov. 
6, '62; re. Dec. 21, '63; trans. June 21, '64, 37th Mass.; 
k. July 12, '64, in Early's Assault on Washington, D. C, 
in front of Ft. Stevens, near Camp Brightwood. 

McMillan, Michael (R), b. Scotland; 44, M.; operator, En- 
field; Sept. 7, '61; dis. June 10, '62, disa. 

Manning, Augustus A., b. Goshen; 23, S.; farmer, Goshen; 
June 21, '61; M. O. July 1, '64; farmer, Goshen, 1909. 

Mather, William, b. Northampton; 24, S.; blacksmith. 



Company C 395 

Northampton; June 21, '61; wd. both thighs, May 31, 
'62, Fair Oaks; M. O. July 1, '64; in 1869, blacksmith, 
Hadley; d. 1896. 

Moody, Edward F., b. Northampton; 18, S.; farmer, North- 
ampton; June 21, '61; wd. left hand, July 1, '62, Malvern 
Hill; M. O. July 1, '64; in 1869, machinist, Northampton. 

Moody, Marcus T., (Corp.), b. Northampton; 19, S.; old 
member, Co. C; clerk, Northampton; wd. hand. May 
31, '62, Fair Oaks; dis. Sept. 28, '62, for Com. as Captain, 
37th Mass.; prom. Major, Dec. 7, '63; dis. July 26, '64, 
disa. on account of wds. rec'd. in action; in 1869, clerk, 
Northampton; 1909, Tacoma Bldg., Chicago. 

Morton, Dwight, b. Hatfield; 33, S.; broom-maker, Hatfield; 
June 21, '61; dis. Feb. 28, '63, disa.; in 1873, farmer, 
East Whately; d. 1897. 

Munyan, Alanson E., (Corp.), b. Northampton; 24, S.; far- 
mer, Northampton; June 21, '61; Sergt., Jan. 9, '62; 
prom. First Lieut., (H). 

Nally, Edward P., b. New York City; 21, S.; cutler, Shel- 
burne; June 21, '61; wd. Julv 1, '62, Malvern Hill; dis. 
Mar. 20, '63, disa.; later Co. B, 1st Heavy Artillery; in 
1909, Chicopee Falls. 

Nims, John Allen, (Sergt.), b. Buckland; 31, M.; daguerreo- 
tvpist, Northampton; June 21, '61; dis. June 18, '62, 
disa.; d. Jan. 27, '66; bur. Shelburne Falls. 

Noble, Linus P., b. Northampton; 22, S.; tinsmith, North- 
ampton; June 21, '61; M. O. July 1, '64; rep. d. 1898. 
Newell has Lucius J. 

Norcross, Francis N., (R), b. Lancaster; 26, S.; bootmaker, 
Chicopee; April 8, '62; dis. Dec. 17, '62, disa. 

Park, Frank C, b. Quincy; 21, S.; palm leaf splitter, Monson; 
June 21, '61; M. 0. July 1, '64; in 1907, overseer, Monson. 

Parsons, Henry W., b. Northampton; 22, S.; farmer, North- 
ampton; June 21, '61; an old member of Co. C; he was 
strong and robust, but succumbed to disease, dying at 
Camp Brightwood, Oct. 7, '61; his remains were taken 
to Northampton and buried from the Edwards church, 
Oct. 10, '61. 

Pease, Edwin S., (R), b. Greenwich; 23, S.; farmer, North- 
ampton; Oct. 18, '61; suffering from Chickahominy 
malaria, he had gone to his home in Northampton to 
recover, but instead, died there, Feb. 23, '63. 



396 



The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 



Phillips, George C, b. Fitchburg; 21, S.; clerk, Fitchburg; 
June 21, '61; captured May 12, '64; M. O. as Corp., 
July 1, '64; d. Sept. 6, 1887, Providence, R. I.; his Post 
(113, Boston) held special memorial services at which 
were present Gov. Oliver Ames and other notables; a 
significant feature was the singing of "Missing None," to 
the tune of the "Vacant Chair." the poetry having been 
written for Phillips Vjy his Comrade, J. H. Jewett. 




CORP. G. C. PHILLIPS, SERG'T. A. A. MANNING, 



J. H. JEWETT. 



Policy, George F., b. Stockbridge; 21, S.; silver plater, 
Williamsburg; June 21, '61; Sergt. Major from First 
Sergt., Feb. 9, '63. 

Prentiss, Hiram B., (Corp.), b. Holden; 27, M.; weaver, 
Northampton; June 21, '61; dis. Mar. 30, '63, disa.; 
d. before 1875. 

Proutv, Edward F., b. Amherst; 18, S.; clerk, Northampton; 
June 21, '61; dis. Aug. 12, '61, disa.; in 1869, hair- 
dresser, Northampton. 

Putnam, George L., b. Amherst; 19, S.; plane-maker, Am- 
herst; June 21, '61; k. May 31, '62, Fair Oaks. 

Reynolds, George, (R), b. Hadley; 24, S.; farmer, Hadley; 
Sept. 7, '61; wd. wrist, Mav, '64, Wilderness; trans. 
June 21, '64, 37th Mass.; dis. Sept. 10, '64, ex. of s.; 
d. June 1905. 

Robbins, Reuben S., b. Thompson, Conn.; 32, S.; painter, 
Belchertown; June 21, '61; re. Dec. 21, '63; trans. 
June 21, '64, 37th Mass.; dis. June 7, '65, disa. 

Rodgers, Charles A., b. Williamsburg; 33, M.; blacksmith, 
Northampton; June 21, '61; M. O. July 1, '64; in 1909, 
Cushman. Also found as Rogers. 



Company C 397 

Rust, Alvin, b. Northampton; 31, S.; clerk, Northampton; 
June 21, '61 ; M. O. as Corp., July 1, '64; d. April 5, 1899. 
aged 69 years, 7 mos., 9 days. 

Shay, Dennis, (R) ; 38, M.; laborer, Northampton; Nov. 
6, '62; M. O. July 1, '64. 

Sheehy, Robert, b. Ireland; 21, S.; cutler, Greenfield; June 
21, '61; M. O. July 1, '64; wd. hand, May, '64, Wilder- 
ness; d. Jan. 14, 1904, S. H. 

Shumway, David K., 24, S.; carriage trimmer, Belchertown; 
June 21, '61; dis. June, '63, Campbell's Hosp., Washing- 
ton, D. C, disa.; re. Dec. 10, '63, (First Sergt.), Co. B, 
56th Mass.; wd. May 6, '64; dis. Jan. 17, '65, on account 
of wds.; in 1908, Belchertown; Commander, Post 97, 
G. A. R. 

Smith, Frank B.; 40, M.; jeweller, Belchertown; June 21, '61; 
N. F. R. 

Smith, Lathrop, b. Conwav; 24, S.; teamster, Northampton; 
June 21, '61; d. Sept. 10, '61, Brightwood, D. C; bur. 
Northampton. 

Stall, Frederick; 22, — ; — , Northampton; N. F. R. 

save, "Honorably dis. Julv 13, '61;" letter, W. D., June 
24, 1903; rep. d. 1906. Also "Stahl." 

Stanley, Edward H., b. Amherst; 23, M.; baggage master, 
Northampton; June 21, '61; d. July 27, '62, Harrison's 
Landing. 

Strong, George, b. Belchertown; 18, S.; carriage painter, 
Belchertown; June 21, '61; dis. Aug. 21, '61, disa. 

Strong, Wm. L., b. Northampton; 35, S.; laborer, Northamp- 
ton; June 21, '61; M. O. July 1, '64; d. 1896. 

Tavlor, Russell, (R), b. Boston; 18, S.; clerk, Boston; Sept. 
19, '61; wd. arm, May 31, '62, Fair Oaks; dis. Oct. 31, 
'62, disa.; in 1880, Washington, D. C. 

Thayer, George L., (Wagoner), b. Greenfield; 24, S.; team- 
ster, Northampton; June 21, '61; dis. June 24, '63, disa.; 
in 1909, 909 Lafayette Ave., Bridgeport, Conn. 

Thayer, Josiah, b. Belchertown; 20, S.; laborer, Amherst; 
June 21, '61; wd. May 3, '63, Salem Heights; d. from 
same. May 25, '63, hosp., Washington, D. C. 

Thayer, Munroe H., (R), b. Roxbury; 18, S.; farmer. North- 



398 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

ampton; Mar. 29, '62; trans. June 21, '64, 37th Mass.; 
he appears in that regiment as "unassigned recruit" 
and has no M. O. 

Tuttle, James; 28, — ; , Northampton; June 21, '61; 

N. F. R. 

Van Horn, Alfred, b. South Deerfield; 23, S.; broom maker, 
Hadley; June 21, '61; dis. Dec. 31, '62, disa.; d. 1890. 

Walker, Myron P., (Mus.) b. Belchertown; 14, S.; , 

Belchertown; June 4, '61; drummer boy for Co. D. 
10th Reg't. M.V.M. Whenthe war began, he was anxious to 
go with his fellows, but they being slow in enlisting, he 
accompanied a number of the Belchertown men to Spring- 
field and enlisted, with parental consent in Co. C, where, 
the youngest member of the Regiment, he did his duty 
in a manly manner; when his enlistment was about half 
out, he conceived the idea of a trip home so, with his 
application for a furlough of twenty days in hand, he 
first obtained the consent of his regimental commander, 
thence to brigade and division commanders, and finally, 
to General E. D. Keyes, Commander of the Corps, all of 
whom consented, thus accomplishing in two hours what, 
through ordinary channels, would have taken as many 
days, possibly as many weeks; M. O. July 1, '64; went 
to California, '68; for ten years in the insurance business, 
returning to Mass. in 1878; in that decade he was actively 
connected with the National Guard of California, holding 
the Com. of Captain, June 6, '73; Major, June 10, '74; 
in Mass. he was Colonel and A. A. Gen'l. on the staff of 
Gov. George D. Robinson, '86; member of the State 
Senate '85 and '86; in '88 was Commander, Department 
of Mass., G. A. R. ; in 1908, manufacturer, Belchertown, 
with office in Springfield. 

Warner, Horace A., b. Cabot, Vt.; 28, M.; weaver, Holyoke; 
June 21, '61; wd. leg, Malvern Hill; dis. Aug. 12, '62, 
disa.; in 1873, overseer, Taunton; rep. d. 1898. 

Warner, Jonathan D., b. Hatfield; 44, S.; clerk, Hatfield; 
June 21, '61; Hos. Steward, Oct. 10, '62; rep., d. 1903. 

Wells, George C, b. Amherst; 20, S.; clerk, Northampton; 
June 21, '61; M. O. as Corp., July 1, '64; rep. d. 1901. 

White, Francis M., b. Hadlev; 19, S.; broom-maker, Hadley; 
June 21, 61; k. May 31, '62, Fair Oaks. 

Whitney, Edwin M., (Corp.), b. Woodstock, Conn.; 25, S.; 



Company D 399 

jeweller, Williamsburg; June 21, '61; Sergt., Oct. 28, '61; 
wd. face. May 31, '62, Fair Oaks; First Sergt., Aug. 9, 
'62; prom. First Lieut. 

Whitney, John, (R), 29, S.; laborer, Bennington, Vt.; Dec. 
23,' '63, cr. Northampton; trans. June 21, '64, 37th Mass.; 
trans. June 21, '65, 20th Mass.; M. 0. July 16, '65; had 
served in 2nd N. Y. Volunteers. 

Wiley, Frank, b. Belchertown; 24, S.; laborer, Belchertown; 
June 21, '61; becoming ill in camp, he had rec'd. a leave 
of absence, and was on his way home when he d. Oct. 
18, '62, in New York City. 

Wiley, Nelson O., b. Belchertown; 22, S.; hostler, Belcher- 
town; June 21, '61; M. O. July 1, '64; rep. d. 1903. 

Williams, Sidnev S., (Sergt.), 23, S.; telegrapher, Northamp- 
ton; June 21, '61; wd. right elbow. May 31, '62, Fair 
Oaks; captured. May 12, '64, Spottsylvania; at first in 
Andersonville, was sent to Florence, S. C, in Sept., 
whence he escaped on Sept. 19; recaptured in Sampson 
County , N . C . , N ovember ; carried to Wilmington , in j ail t wo 
or three weeks, thence was sent to Florence again, re- 
maining till Feb., '65; went thence to Wilmington for ex- 
change, but was suddenly sent back into the country; 
once more he escaped and spent days and nights in the 
swamps, until Wilmington fell into the hands of Sherman 
and his men when, Feb. 22, '65, he at last found himself 
under the Stars and Stripes; dis. April 25, '65, as First 
Sergt.; in 1909, harness manufacturer. Providence, R. I. 

Wilsea, Berea M., b Troy, N. Y.; 22, M.; weaver, Adams, 
June 21, '61; M. O. July 1, '64. 

Wright, Frederick C, b. Northampton; 22, S.; clerk, North- 
ampton; June 21, '61; was offered the position of Com. 
Sergt., but preferred the ranks and the prospects of 
active service; by special order. No. 115, Army of the 
Potomac, he was dis. Oct. 26, '61, for Com. as Second 
Lieut., 27th Mass.; prom. First Lieut., Oct. 30, '62; and 
for a time commanded his company; wd. June 6, '64, 
Cold Harbor; d. from wd., June 27, hosp., Washington; 
bur. June 30, '64, from Unitarian church, Northampton. 

COMPANY D, PITTSFIELD, POLLOCK GUARD 

The first town in Western Massachusetts to furnish a Com- 
pany under the first call, that of April 15, '61, was Pittsfield, 



400 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

the Allen guard under the command of Captain Henry S. 
Briggs, afterwards Colonel of the Tenth, had^hardly departed 
before measures were taken to organize another Company. 
George H. Lafiin and Thomas Colt were commissioned by 
Governor Andrew to recruit and organize such a body for 
service in the field. For this purpose a recruiting office was 
opened in West's Hall, the new Company receiving the name 
of the Pollock Guard, in honor of WilHam Pollock, Esq., a 
very prominent citizen of Pittsfield who gave the sum of one 
thousand dollars to begin with. In a single week, the enroll- 
ment went up to sixty names, the most of the men being from 
Pittsfield, but neighboring towns were also contributors. 
May second, the Company went into barracks in Agricultural 
Hall, using the south wing for a drill room, the north for the 
the commissary quarters and the west for a dormitory. For 
drill-master, Thomas W. Clapp, formerly a cadet at West 
Point, was selected and a liberal donation of blankets was 
made by the citizens. 

Saturday, May 4, came the election of officers, resulting in 
Thomas W. Clapp's receiving the captaincy, with Charles 
Wheeler, Dwight Hubbard and George E. Hager, First, Second 
and Third Lieutenants, respectively. Evidently the time 
of the recruits was largely devoted to drill and the school of 
soldier, since the annalist of the period has little to offer 
until Wednesday, the 23d of May, when, at a town meeting, a 
report was read by the committee appointed April 18 to pro- 
vide for the comfort of the soldiers. It was reported that a 
contract had been made with Andrew Beebe to furnish food 
for the Pollock Guard at the rate of two dollars and twenty- 
five cents per week for each soldier. This contract required 
the weekly expenditure of $180.00 while the Guard remained 
in camp. Contracts also had been made for the supply of 
clothing, calling for about $400.00 in addition to the $1,000.00 
already given by Mr. Pollock. It was also stated that, in the 
selection of recruits for the Company, care had been taken to 
enlist only those men whose families would be unlikely to 
require aid during the enlistment. 

The first public appearance of the Company was Saturday, 
the 25th of May, when the men, bright in their new uniforms, 
paraded through the streets exciting much enthusiasm by 
their excellent marching and generally fine appearance. A 
pleasing feature of the parade was a visit to the home of Mr. 
William Pollock, the generous patron of the Company, who 
received the soldiers and entertained them most hospitably. 



Company D 401 

It was evening before the men returned to their quarters 
known as Camp Pollock. The next day, being Sunday, the 
Guard attended service at the First Congregational Church 
and listened to an appropriate discourse by the pastor, the 
famous Dr. John Todd. 

That the comfort and health of the men were uppermost 
in the feeHngs of the citizens, was apparent in a variety of 
ways, especially so when we find ladies constituting them- 
selves a committee for the purpose of furnishing flannel 
clothing, havelocks and other articles, likely to contribute to 
the good of the recruits to whom, as yet, war was an untried 
reality. The names of these patriotic ladies were Mrs. Gilbert 
C. West, Mrs. E. B. Oliver, Mrs. John C. West, Mrs. S. V. R. 
Daniels, Mrs. Dr. A. N. Allen, Mrs. Joseph Gregory, Mrs. Wm. 
G. Backus, Mrs. John M. Rowland, Mrs. L. G. Lloyd, Mrs. 
Wm. M. Wells, Mrs. D. J. Dodge. On the 30th, Pittsfield 
latiies visited the camp and varied the monotony of regular 
rations bv serving a supper of their own preparation. Younger 
ladies, pupils in the Mendelssohn Musical Institute, together 
with their teachers gave a fine army revolver to Captain Clapp 
and otherwise assisted their Pittsfield friends in caring for the 
newly enUsted men. Nor were the students in the Maplewood 
Institute for girls lacking in appreciation of their opportuni- 
ties, for they gave to the Guard a large box of bandages, 
needle books', pin cushions and other items, each useful in its 
wav. In return for so many expressions of kindness from the 
good people of Pittsfield, it was the fortunate lot of the soldiers 
to be able to return some of the favors in kind, for when the 
mills of the Pittsfield Woolen Company, opposite the Agri- 
cultural Grounds were burned, the men won the admiration 
of all in their daring efforts to rescue property from destruction. 

The day of departure came June 15th, when, after the 
march down Morton Place to the station, cars were taken for 
the ride to Springfield, being the last of the ten companies to 
reach the rendezvous. Of course the entire town was out to 
see the Company off and with beat of drum, waving of hand- 
kerchiefs and the cheers of thousands the train rolled out of 
Pittsfield. On reaching their destination quarters were found 
in Hampden Park. At the muster-in, June 21st, George E. 
Hager took the place of Dwight Hubbard as Second 
Lieutenant. 



402 The Tenth Massachusetts Ixfaxtry 

(For full explanation of abbreviations, see page 332.) 
COMMISSIONED OFFICERS 

CAPTAINS 

Thomas W. Clapp, b. Pittsfield; 31, S.; merchant, Pittsfield; 
June 14, '61; cashiered, Nov. 25, '62; S. O. No. 333, W. 
D.; in 1875, woolen manufacturer, Pittsfield; dead. 

Homer G. Gilmore (F), Nov. 26, '62; wd. May 12, '64, at the 
Angle, Spottsylvania ; M. O. July 1. '64; bvt. Major, 
March 13, '65; having joined the "Peabody Guards," a 
Company of Civil War Veterans in Springfield, he was 
commissioned First Lieut. Aug. 29, '68; commissioned 
Major, Second Regt. M. V. M., March 15, '69; Lieut. 
Colonel, Aug. 23, '71; res. and was honorably dis. Aug. 

17, '75; has resided in Springfield since the War, from 
1864 to 1866 in the employ of Smith and Wesson, since 
then in the insurance business; d. Oct. 14, 1908. 

FIRST lieutenants 

Charles Wheeler, b. Sterling; 22, S.; paper maker, Dalton; 
June 14, '61; wd. July 1, '62, Malvern Hill, left ai-m 
amputated at shoulder; Com. Captain, July 21, '62 and 
declined; Regimental Quartermaster, Oct., '62; res. 
Dec. 20, '62; in the Fall of 1863, resided in Chicago and 
was agent for a paper warehouse; is said to have been 
killed two or three years since in a railroad accident. 

Mark H. Cotrell, from First Sergt.; Nov. 26, '62; wd. May 

18, '64, Spottsylvania; M. O. July 1, '64; in 1875, farmer, 
Floyd, Iowa; in 1906 said to be in a western S. H. 

SECOND lieutenants 

George E. Hager, b. Pittsfield; 20, S.; paper-maker, Pitts- 
field; June 14, '61; discharged Nov. 25, '62; Dec. 29, '63, 
enlisted, Sergt., Co. K, First Mass. Cav.; prisoner in 
Richmond, Andersonville, Florence and Charleston from 
May 10, '64 till Feb. 7, '65; M. O. June 26, '65; Aide-de- 
Camp, Dec. 29, 1890, staff of Commander-in-Chief W. G. 
Veazey, G. A. R. ; Jan. 4, 1900; Aide-de-Camp, rank of 
Major, Staff of Gov. W. Murray Crane; in civil life, paper 
maker, Dalton; d. May 30, 1907. 

Elihu B. Whittlesey, from Sergt. Maj. (F., S.), June 1, '62; 
M. O. July 1, '64; in 1875, wool manufacturer, Pittsfield. 



Company D 403 

NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS AND PRIVATES 

(June 14, date of reporting in Springfield, is given rather than June 
21, that of muster in.) 

Adams, Charles, b. Chesterfield; 20, — ; teamster, Worthing- 
ton; June 21, '61; dis. March 26, '63, disa.; later Co. C. 
1st Mass. Cav. 

Allen, George W., b. Brookfield; 18, S.; farmer, Brookfield; 
June 14, '61; dis. July 12, '61, disa. 

Allen, Sylvester W., b. Hinsdale; 25, S.; farmer, Hinsdale; 
June 14, '61; re. Dec. 21, '63; trans. June 19, '64, 37th 
Mass.; trans. June 21, '65, 20th Mass.; M. O. July 16, '65. 

Arbuckle, Frederick, b. New York City; 18, S.; clerk, Chico- 
pee; June 14, '61; wd. July 1, '62, Malvern Hill; dis. 
Dec. 4, '62, disa. 

Babcock, Wm.; 42, M.; blacksmith, Dalton; June 14, '61; 
N. F. R. 

Babcock, Wm. N.; b. Dalton; 21, S.; shoemaker, Dalton; 
June 14, '61; dis. Nov. 3, '62, disa.; later in the Navy 
as Charles Nelson; in 1873, said to reside in Nebraska. 

Bacon, John H., (R), b. Auburn, N. Y. ; 27, — ; , Wash- 
ington, D. C; Nov. 16, '61; dis. June 18, '62, disa.; 1908, 
Cleveland, Ohio. 

Bailey, George E., (Corp.), b. Pittsfield; 25, S.; mason, 
Pittsfield; June 14," '61; Sergt. Jan 1, '63; M. O. July 1, 
'64; d. Jan. 3, 1883, S. H. 

Bardwell, Guy, (R), b. Montague; 37, M.; farmer Montague; 
Aug. 9, '62; re. Dec. 21, '63; wd. and captured May 
9, '64, Spottsylvania; d. Nov. 21, '64, Florence, S. C. 

Bassett, Almon, (R), b. New York City; 20, — ; , 

Washington, D. C; June 14, '62; dis. Nov. 24, '62, disa;. 
had served three months' term in the 8th Mass. ; Sept. 
1, '63, en. in Co. H, 22d Mass.; dis. July 1, '64, by reason 
of wd. received in the movement from the Rapidan; two 
years later, suffered amputation of leg on account of said 
wound; in 1875, resided in Pittsfield; 1908, Boston. 

Bidgood, Abram, b. Dalton; 18, M.; paper hanger, Dalton; 
June 14, '61; wd. July 1, '62, Malvern Hill; d. Nov. 24, 
'62, Harpers' Ferry. 

Bolander, Thomas, ]v.; 19, S.; mechanic. Palmer; June 14, 
'62; N. F. R. 



404 



The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 




LIEUT. M H. COTRELL (D), CAPT. H. G. GILMORE (D), 

WM. A. ASHLEY (I), 
Q. M. A. S. MANSIR (A), CAPT. FLAVEL SHURTLEFF (H). 

Bolter, Peter C, b. Sorel, Canada; 18, S.; operative, Pitts- 
field; June 14, '61; wd. shoulder, May, '64, Wilderness; 
M. O. July 1, '64; in Nov., '72, mason, Pittsfield; also 
found as Bolton; dead. 

Boyste, Henry, b. Prussia; 33, S.; weaver. Providence, R. I.; 
June 14, '61; desert. Sept. 1, '62. 

Bradley, Orrin S., b. North Adams; 29, M.; farmer, Cum- 
mington; June 14, '61; wd. hand, Malvern Hill, at Fred- 
ericksburg, foot; at the Wilderness, detailed for duty 
in hosp., there cared for Major Parker and Lieut. Midge- 
ley; M. 0. July 1, '64; in 1869, farmer, Palmer; dead. 

Brewer, Alonzo C, b. Hingham; 22, S.; tailor, Springfield; 
July 21, '61; k. May 12, '64, Spottsylvania ; shot first 
in the bowels, but refused to leave the field, five minutes 
later was hit in the forehead and instantly killed. 



Company D 405 

Breyer, Frank L., b. South Adams; 23, S.; teamster, Pitts- 
field; June 14, '61; dis. June 17, '62, disa.; 1909, Spring- 
field. 

Brown, Timothy, b. Boston; 19, S.; blacksmith, Northamp- 
ton; June 14, '61; dis. Dec. 23, '62, O. W. D. 

Burbank, Samuel, b. New Ashford; 20, S.; hackman, Pitts- 
field; June 14, '61; k. May 10, '64, Spottsylvania. 

Burns, John, b. Ireland; 23, S.; farmer, Becket; June 14, '61; 
capt. May 12, '64; M. 0. July 1, '64. 

Callahan, Patrick, b. Ireland; 21, S.; teamster, Cheshire; 

dis. Nov. 12, '62, to join regular army; served in Battery 

L, 1st U. S. Artillery and Battery G, 2d U. S. Artillery; 

M. O. Nov. '65; in 1873, resided in Cheshire. 
Campbell, John, b. New York City; currier, Dalton; June 14, 

'61; M. O. July 1, '64; in 1873, resided in Pittsfield; 

rep. d. 1907. 
Carev, John; 20, S.; farmer, Pittsfield; June 14, '61; wd. 

July 1, Malvern Hill; dis. Nov. 22, '62, disa.; in 1873, 

resided in Pittsfield. 
Cassidy, James, b. Hinsdale; 24, S.; operative, Pittsfield; 

June 14, '64; k. May 5, '64, Wilderness. 
Clark, Stephen, b. New Ashford; 21, S.; carpenter. New 

Ashford; June 14, '61; dis. Nov. 9, '62, to en. in regular 

army; in 1873, said to reside in Tennessee. 
Collamer, Elbridge, b. Washington; 18, — . ; lime burner, 

Lenox; June 21, '61; M. O. July 1, '64; in 1873, cooper. 

West Stockbridge; Newell says "Collamore" and 

(wagoner) . 
Collis, Richard, b. London, Eng. ; 38, S.; morocco dresser, 

Boston; June 14, '61; k. July 1, '62, Malvern Hill. 

Colt, Thomas G., b. Pittsfield; 19, S.; clerk, Pittsfield; June 
14, '61; dis. Aug. 5, '62, O. W. D. for Com. 37th Mass. 
Adjutant; later. Captain and Asst. Adjt. Gen. of Volun- 
teers; M. O. June 28, '65; bvt. Major and Lieut. Colonel, 
Aug. 22, '65 and June 22, '67; in 1875, merchant, Pitts- 
field; dead. 

Cook, Samuel B., b. Johnston, Vt.; 35, M.; operative, Chico- 
pee; June 14, '61; Company Commissary from Feb. '62 
to end of service; M. O. July 1, '64; in 1875, overseer, 
Chicopee Falls; dead. 

Cotrell, Mark H. (First Sergt.), b. Stockbridge; 23, S.; clerk, 



406 The Tenth Massachusetts Ixfaxtuy 

Lenox; June 14, '61; before leaving for the war, the 
citizens of Lenox gave him a fine sword, sash and belt; 
wd. severely, arm. Fair Oaks; prom. First Lieut. 

Cousens, George W., b. Grafton, N. Y.; 18, S. ; spinner. South 
Adams; June 21, '61; re. Dec. 21, '63; d. as Sergt., at 
Chicopee Falls, of wounds received May 5, '64, Wilderness. 

Crossett, Frederick, b. South Adams; 27, S.; farmer, South 
Adams; June 14, '61; dis. June 13, '62, disa.; in 1873, 
said to reside in South Adams. 

Curry, James, b. Ireland; 22, S.; operative, Hinsdale,; June 
14, '61 ; dis. Nov. 12, '62, O. W. D. to en. U. S. A. ; when 
last heard from was in Battery G, Second Artillery, Cal. 

Dailv, John C, (R), b. Ireland; 23, M.; butcher, Pittsfield; 
Feb. 19, '62; dis. Oct. 20, '62, disa. 

Dalton, James, b. Ireland; 40, S.; laborer, Springfield; June 
14, '61; dis. Sept. 19, '62, disa. 

Davis, Henry R., (Corp.), b. Pittsfield; 22, S.; teamster, 
Pittsfield; June 14, '61; Sergt. April 1, '63; capt. May 
12, '64, Spottsylvania and held till Feb. 14, '65; absent 
at M. O. though his dis. was dated back; in 1873, resided 
Pittsfield; 1907, N. S. H., Togus, Me. 

Donovan, John, b. Leominster; 24, S.; farmer, Cummington; 
June 14, '61; k. May 3, '63, Salem Heights. 

Dudley, Charles, b. Pittsfield; 23, M.; blacksmith, Pittsfield; 
June 14, '61; dis. Aug. 13, '62, disa.; later in Co. C, 49th 
Mass., and Co. A, 57th Mass. 

Duffee, Thomas, b. Ireland; 19, S.; operative, Pittsfield; 
June 14, '61; Corp. Jan. 1, '63; capt. May 12, '64, Spott- 
sylvania; presumably absent at M. O.; Newell says 
"k. at Spottsylvania;" Newell says "Duff}-." 

Dunbar, Charles, b. Springfield; 22, S.; currier, Springfield; 
June 14, '61; dis. Nov. 24, '63, disa; in 1873, said to 
reside in Boston. 

Emmons, Monroe, b. Springfield; 22, S.; clerk, Hinsdale; 
June 14, '61; dis. March 17, '62, disa.; d. Hinsdale, 
during the War. 

Fairchilds, Crowell, b. Lee; 19. S.; farmer, Lee; June 14, '61; 
wd. Malvern Hill; dis. July 22, '62, disa.; in"lS73, said to 
reside in Lee. 

Fiero, Frederick L., b. Saugerties, N. Y.; 21, S.; butcher, 



Company D 407 

Dalton; June 14, '61; dis. Oct. 4, '61, disa.; later, Co. B, 
Sth Mass., 100 days; d., no date, S. H. 

Finnican, James, b. Ireland; 18, S.; clerk, Pittsfield; June 
14, '61; wd. hand, Salem Heights and again. Wilderness; 
M. O. as Corp.. July 1, '64; later in V. R. C. ; d. Pittsfield; 
Newell has Finucane. 

Gardner, Edward, b. Westmoreland, N. H.; 18, S.; farmer, 
Conway; June 14, '61; k. May 31, '62, Fair Oaks. 

Goodale, Charles T., b. New Ashford; 26, M.; mechanic, 
New Ashford; June 14, '61; wd. Malvern Hill; trans. 
July 1, '63, V. R. C; dis. March 1, '65, disa.; in 1873, 
said to reside in Cohoes, N. Y.; also Charles L. 

Green, Jerry, b. New Lebanon, N. Y.; 22, S.; hackman, Pitts- 
field; June 14, '61; wd. hand, vSalem Heights; M. O. 
July 1, '64; later in Co. M, 3d Mass. Cav.; M. O. Sept. 
'65; in 1873, patent roofing business, Pittsfield; d. 
Adams. 

Griffin, Nelson N., b. Lanesboro; 23, S.; farmer, Steventown, 
N. Y.; June 14, '61; k. July 1, '62, Malvern HiU. 

Hamill, David, b. Lee; 18, S.; farmer, Springfield; June 14, 
'61; re. Jan. 20, '64, cr. Windsor; wd. May 1, '64, Wilder- 
ness; trans. June 19, '64, 37th Mass.; trans. Jan. 10, '65, 
V. R. C; in 1873, said to reside in Stuyvesant. 

Hand, Sherman P., (Sergt.), b. New Lebanon, N. Y.; 28, S.; 
teacher, Humboldt, Kan.; June 14, '61; cr. Springfield; 
re. Jan. 20, '63; dis. March 21, '64, for Com. Second 
Lieut., Co. E, 43d U. S. Col. Troops; wd. hand and side, 
July 30, '64, mine explosion, Petersburg, and capt.; held 
a prisoner seven months; res. May 2, '65; having gone 
to Kansas in 1856, he had been an active participant in 
all of the troubles there till he came East to enlist; in 
1873, farmer and gardener, Binghamton, N. Y.; rep. d. 
1901. 

Heffron, Levi, b. Brattleboro, Vt.; 21, S.; farmer, Brattle- 
boro; June 14, '61; Corp. Jan. 1, '63; M. O. July 1, '64; 
in 1873, said to be in Frederick, Md. 

Hemmenwav, Alfred C, b. Nassau, N. Y. ; 18, S.; farmer, 
Pittsfield; June 14, '61; k. May 31, '62, Fair Oaks. 

Hemmenway, Harrison, (R), b. Nassau, N. Y.; 21, — ; manu- 
facturer, Pittsfield; April 4, '62; trans. June 19, '64, 
37th Mass; 1909, Pittsfield. 



408 The Tenth Massachusetts Infaxtry 

HemInenwa3^ Haskell, (Sergt.), b. East Nassau, N. Y.; 19, S.; 
clerk, Pittsfield; June 14, '61; k. July 1, '62, Malvern Hill. 

Hibbard, Gardner B., (Corp.); 19, S.; mechanic, Pittsfield; 
June 21, '61; d. Oct. 11, '61, Washington, Columbia 
Hosp.; he was the first soldier from Pittsfield to die; his 
remains reached his home Oct. 15th and the funeral 
sermon was preached by the Rev. John Todd; State 
House Rolls give death, "Nov. 13." 

Hines, Henry P., b. Lenox; 24, S.; farmer, Lenox; June 14, 
'61; trans. Nov. 23, '63, V. R. C; in 1873, said to be in 
Lenox. 

Hogan, Michael S., b. Goshen; 24, — ; currier, Hinsdale; 
June 14, '61 ; mortally wounded as First Sergt., both legs, 
Salem Heights; d. May 24, '63, Washington. 

Howard, Henry N., b. Grafton; 20, S.; button maker, North- 
ampton; June 14, '61; wd. July 1, '62, Malvern Hill; 
dis. no date, disa.; died before 1875. 

Hubbard, Dwight, (Sergt.), b. Chester; 26, S.; civil engineer, 
Pittsfield; June 14, '61; dis. Feb. 15, '63, disa.; in 1873, 
teacher, Pittsfield. 

Irving, William, b. Bridgeport, Conn.; 22, S.; fireman, Pitts- 
field; June 14, '61; wd. arm, Mav 31, '62, Fair Oaks; 
trans. April 8, '64, U. S. Navy; dis. May 13, '65; d. July 
21, '68, Troy, N. Y. 

Jenne, Wm. L., b. Lenox; 20, S.; miller, Lenox; June 14, '61; 
wd. May 31, '62, Fair Oaks; after the battle, carried off 
the field by Lieut. Eccleston, 36th N. Y.; dis. July IS, 
'62, disa.; later in 57th Mass.; M. O. June 9, '65; in 
1873, carpenter, Lenox; 1907, Lenox. 

Johnson, John, (R), N. F. R. save desert. May 5, '63; M. R. 
No. 18. 

Johnston, John B., (Mus.), 15, S.; tobacco worker, Washing- 
ton, D. C; Aug. 1, '61; M. O. July 1, '64; in 1873, said 
to reside in Philadelphia. 

Jones, John, b. Pittsfield; 18, S.; clerk, Pittsfield; June 14, 
'61; re. March 23, '64, cr. West Springfield; trans. June 
19, '64, 37th Mass.; prom. Corp.; trans. June 21, '65, 
20th Mass.; M. O. July 16, '65; 1908, West Somerville. 

Kellogg, George S., b. Bennington, Vt.; 19, — ; , Pitts- 
field; June 14, '61; Corp., July 1, '63; wd. lung, May, 
'64, Wilderness; M. O. July 1, '64; resides, 1907, Bald- 
win, N. Y. 



Company D 409 

Lane, Wm. T., b. Pittsfield; 43, M.; shoemaker, Pittsfield, 
June 28, '61; M. O. July 1, '64; d. before 1875. 

Lantrell, James; 20, S.; tailor, Springfield; June 20, '61; 
desert. July, '61. 

Larkin, Thos. G., b. Ireland; 30, M.; cooper, Pittsfield; June 
14, '61; wd. leg, May 3, '62, Salem Heights; M. O. July 
1, '64; in 1873, said to reside in Lenox; dead. 

Loomis, Daniel, b. Richmond; 18, S.; farmer, Pittsfield; 
June 14, '61; dis. Nov. 9, '62, O. W. D., to en. in regular 
Army; in 1873, said to be in Omaha, Neb. 

Martin, John, b. Ireland; 19, S.; paper maker, Pittsfield; 
June 14, '61; re. Dec. 21, '63; desert. March 18, '64. 

Mason, Franklin B., b. Windsor; 20, M.; carpenter, Windsor; 
June 14, '61; wd. hand, Fair Oaks and foot, Gettysburg; 
M. O. July 1, '64; later in Co. I, Sixth U. S. Vet. Vols.; 
in 1873, clerk, North Adams. 

Meyer, Carl B., (R), b. Germany; 29, S.; shoemaker, Boston; 
Jan. 25, '64, cr. Cambridge; trans. June 19, '64, 37th 
Mass.; trans. July 21, '65, 20th Mass.; M. O. July 16, '65; 
d. Chicopee. 

Morley, Edward M., (R), b. West Springfield; 18, — ; , 

Greenfield; Sept. 9, '61; re. Jan. 22, '64, cr. West Spring- 
field; trans. June 19, '64, 37th Mass.; d. City Point, Va., 
April 21, '65, from wds. received April 6, '65. 

Mullett, Daniel A., b. Newfane, Vt.; 18, S.; operative, Pitts- 
field; June 14, '61; capt. May 18, '64; d. in hands of the 
enemy; State House rolls say, "M. O. July 1, '64." 

Mullett, John S., b. Dudley; 40, M.; fuller, Pittsfield; June 

14, '61; M. 0. July 1, '64; d. before 1875. 
Mungan, Daniel, b. New Lebanon, N. Y.; 18, S.; farmer, 

New Lebanon, N. Y.; June 14, '61.; desert. Nov. 30, '61; 

in 1873, said to be in Philadelphia; also found as 

"Mangan." 

Munroe, Edward J.; N. F. R. save, dis. July 18, '61, disa. 

Murphy, Patrick, b. Greenfield; 19, S.; mechanic, Greenfield; 

June 14, '61; re. Jan. 20, '64, cr. Springfield; trans. 

June 19, '64, 37th Mass.; trans. June 21, '65, 20th Mass.; 

M. O. July 16, '65. 
Murphy, Timothy, (Corp.), b. Pittsfield; 20, S.; farmer, 

Pittsfield; June 14, '61; desert. Aug. '62, Harrison's 

Landing, Va.; in 1873, said to be in San Francisco, Cal. 



410 



The Tenth Massachusetts Infanthv 




WM. SHAFTOE. JR., 
G. S. KELLOGG, 



H. D. NEWTON. 
LIEUT. G. E. H.\GER. 



Newton, Edwin, (Wagoner), b. Framingham; 22, S.; team- 
ster, Framingham; June 14, '61; M. O. July 1, '64; in 
1873, said to reside in Medford. 

Newton, Henrv D., b. Pittsfield; 25, M.; carpenter, Pitts- 
field; June 14, '61; dis. Dec. 28, '62, disa.; in 1873, in 
Pittsfield; d. Pittsfield, Sept. 29, 1908. 

Noble, Henry, b. Lanesboro; 27, S.; seaman, Pittsfield; 
June 14, '61; re. Dec. 21, '63, or. Lanesboro; d. hosp., 
June 2, '64, from wd. received May 12, at Spottsylvania ; 
State House rolls say, "k. May 12;" had served three 
years in the Navy before the War. 

O'Sullivan, John, b. Bantry Bay, Ireland; 40, M.; black- 
smith, Becket; June 14, '61; dis. July 24, '63, disa.; 
later served in the 57th Mass. ; is said to have been born 
Christmas Day, 1803; to have served in the Mexican 
War ; to have been wounded while in the Tenth and also 
at the Wilderness, while in the 57th; he fought in the 



Company D 411 

ranks at Fair Oaks and at Malvern, but for the most of 

his time in the 10th, was Brigade blacksmith; in 1873, 

in Becket; dead. 
Packard, Charles, b. Avon, N. Y.; 22, S.; teamster, Pittsfield; 

June 14, '61; re. Dec. 21, '63; trans. June 19, '64, 37th 

Mass.; trans. June 21, '65, 20th Mass.; M. O. July 16, '65; 

in 1873, brakeman, Pittsfield. 
Palmer, Charles G., b. Northampton; 19, S.; carpenter. 

Palmer; June 14, '61; dis. Nov. 26, '62, disa.; in 1873, 

said to reside in Palmer. 
Perrv, Charles W., b. Lenox; 27, S.; butcher, Lenox; June 

"14, '61; M. O. July 1, '64; d. February, 1873. 

Pierce, Orlando W., b. Windsor; 21, S.; farmer, Windsor; 
June 14, '61; Sergt., July, '62; First Sergt., Aug. 14, '63; 
re. Dec. 21, '63; wd. May 5, '64, Wilderness; trans. 
June 19, '64, 37th Mass.; trans. Jan. 19, '65, V. R. C; 
in 1873, expressman, Jackson, Mich. 

Potter, Charles, b. Greenfield; 19, S.; blacksmith, Green- 
field; June 14, '61; wd. July 1, '62, Malvern Hill; dis. 
on account of wd. Jan. 1, '63; d. N. S. H., Togus, Me., 
Oct. 3, 1869. 

Quinn, John W., b. Augusta, Me.; 21, — ; groom, Springfield; 
June 14, '61; dis. Oct. 24, '62, disa. 

Randall, James M., b. South Adams; 21, S.; farmer, Adams; 
June 14, '61; dis. Feb. 24, '63, disa.; rep. d. 1907. 

Randall, Levi, (R), b. Adams; 21, — ; farmer, Washington, 
D. C; Feb. 13, '62; dis. May 1, '62, disa.; rep. d. 1907. 

Reardon, Daniel, b. Pittsfield; 22, S.; cigar maker, Pittsfield; 

June 14, '61; dis. Aug. 10, '63, disa.; in 1873, moulder, 

South Adams; rep. d. 1900. 
Riley, Thomas, b. Pittstown, N. Y. ; 18, S.; laborer, Adams; 

June 14, '61; wd. right knee, July 1, '62, Malvern Hill, 

and taken as prisoner to Richmond; dis. March 23, '63, 

disa.; later in Co. K, Ninth Vt.; in 1873, moulder. South 

Adams; rep. d. 1907. 
Ross, John H., b. Sharpsburg, Vt.; 26, S.; laborer, Pittsfield; 

June 14, '61; dropped from rolls, O. W. D. Dec. 6, '63; 

in 1873 in Pittsfield. 
Roth, Clifton L., b. Hinsdale; 23, S.; farmer, Hinsdale; 

June 14, '61; k. Ma}^ 5, '64, Wilderness. 
Ryan, Richard, b. Ireland; 27, S.; laborer, Pittsfield; June 



412 The Tenth Massachusetts Inf.vntry 

Spottsylvania ; before the fight, he said to his comrade 
14, '61; re. Dec. 21, '63, cr. Agawam; k. Ma}^ 12, '64, 
Wheeler that he did not expect to come out ahve, and 
asked hiin to take charge of some smah articles. Wheeler 
took them and saw Rvan killed within three feet of him- 
self. 

Sawyer, Lorenzo L., b. Lakeville; IS, S.; farmer, Lakeville; 
June 14, '61; dis. July 12, '61, disa. 

Shaftoe, Wm., Jr., b. Schaghticoke, N. Y. ; 18, S.; printer, 
Adams; June 14, '61; re. Dec. 21, '63; trans. June 19, 
'64, 37th Mass.; trans. June 21, '65, 20th Mass.; M. 0. 
July 16, '65; Com. Sergt. Brigade Headquarters when 
dis.; in 1908, Elmira, N. Y. 

Shaw, Charles H., b. Cummington; 21, S.; blacksmith, Cum- 
mington; June 14, '61; wd. right ankle. May 5, '64, 
Wilderness; ab. at M. O. July 1, '64; laid up by wd. till 
Sept. '65; in 1869, lawyer, Meriden. Conn. 

Shaw, James M., b. New York City; 21, S.; farmer, Hinsdale; 
June 14, '61; M. O. July 1, '64; in 1873, farmer, Hinsdale. 

Smith, John W., (Corp), b. Pittsfield; 18, S.; farmer, Pitts- 
field; June 14, '61; dis. Nov. 9, '62 to en. regular Army, 
O. W. D.; d. in the service. 

Smith, Walter B., (Corp.), b. New Market, N. H.; 31, — ; 

, Washington, D. C; Aug. 12, '61; wd. shoulder 

May 31, '62, Fair Oaks; prom. Second Lieut., 37th Mass., 
Aug. 27, '62; prom. First Lieut., April 5, '64; prom. 
Captain, March 4, '65; wd. groin, April, '65, Sailor's 
Creek; trans. June 21, '65, 20th Mass.; M. O. Julv 16, '65; 
in 1908, clerk of District Court, Pittsfield. 

Solon, James, b. Ireland; 21, S.; blacksmith, Chicopee; June 
14, '61; Corp. Jan. 1, '63; M. 0. July 1, '64; in 1873, 
in Pittsfield; dead. 

Stockbridge, Lyman, b. Pittsfield; 25, S.; hackman, Pitts- 
field; June 14, '61; M. O. July 1, '64; in 1873, in Pitts- 
field; dead. 

Timothv, Michael, b. Ireland; 30, S.; farmer, Northampton; 
June 14, '61; dis. Oct. 20, '62, disa.; d. N. S. H., Davton, 
Ohio, Jan. 24, 1895. 

Tyler, Daniel W., b. Leominster; 27, M.; paper maker, 
Dalton; June 14, '61; dis. Aug. 13, '62, disa.; in 1873, 
paper maker, Dalton. 



Company E 413 

Vetter, Jacob, (R), b. Germany; 21, — ; manufacturer, Pitts- 
field; Feb. 13, '62; dis. Aug. 29, '62, disa. 

Vickery, Myron D., b. Nassau, N. Y.; 25, S.; farmer, Steven- 
town, N. Y.; June 14, '61; dis. Nov. 9, '62, disa.; Newell 
says, "trans. Battery D, Second U. S. Artillery." 

Videtto, Wm. H., b. Brooklyn, N. Y.; 27, — ; gas fitter, Pitts- 
field; June 14, '61; trans. June 27, '64, Co. H. 24th 
V. R. C; d. since the War. 

Walker, Andrew, (Mus.), b. New York City; 16, S.; farmer, 
Hinsdale; June 14, '61; dis. Nov. 3, '62, disa. 

Ward, John B., b. Suffield, Conn.; 23, S.; farmer, Sufheld, 
Conn.; June 14, '61; desert. June 25, '61. 

Warner, John, b. St. Louis, Mo.; 18, S.; painter, Holyoke; 
June 14, '61; dis. Nov. 9, '62 to en. U. S. Artillery, 
' 0. W. D. 

Wetherbee, James, b. Athol; 35, S.; carpenter, Pittsfield; 
June 14, '61; re. Dec. 21, '63, cr. Agawam; wd. May 6, 
'64, Wilderness; ab. at M. 0., not returning for duty till 
Sept. 15, in 37th Mass.; trans. June 21, '65, 20th Mass.; 
M. O. July 16, '65; in 1873, carpenter. Savoy; rep. d. 
1904. 

Wheeler, James W., b. New York City; 23, S.; blacksmith, 
New Ashford; June 14, '61; Corp. April 1, '63; Sergt., 
June 1, '63; M. 0. July 1, '64; in 1873, farmer, Wood- 
ville. Miss. 

Wright, Jasper, b. Rockv Hill, Conn.; 25, S.; farmer. Rocky 
Hill, Conn.; June 14, '61; desert. Nov. 22, '61. 

COMPANY E, SPRINGFIELD 

In the earliest days of the war, Hampden County was 
ambitious and undertook to raise a regiment to be known as 
the Hampden County Regiment and, under the direction of 
the Rev. Frederick A. Barton of Indian Orchard, a movement 
to this end was started. Two companies were nearly com- 
pleted and were camping in Hampden Park, Springfield, 
when the authorities in Boston ended these plans by accepting 
the six Companies of the Tenth Regiment of militia and, by 
the addition of the Companies of Great Barrington, Pittsfield 
and North Adams and this organization, the number was 
complete, the second Springfield Company, under Captain 



414 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

Oliver Edwards, being broken up and added to the other 
companies not quite up to the standard, the Captain becoming 
Regimental Adjutant. 

The organization was effected in May with Frederic Barton 
as Captain and the Lieutenants were Byron Porter, Wallace 
A. Putnam, George W. Porter and S. C. Warriner in First, 
Second, Third and Fourth oi'der. As has been seen in other 
cases, the government not accepting so many junior officers, 
the Third and Fourth Lieutenants lapsed into the ranks 
where they gave good accounts of themselves. The First 
Sergeant was Edwin L. Knight who soon received a commis- 
sion and was long in command of the Company. Saturday, 
June 1, the men were made happy by the reception of their 
new uniforms, gray, trimmed with black and in their bright 
dress attended church the following day. They were the 
observed of all observers, as they paraded, not in their suits 
of blue, but in the very shade of gray they were to spend three 
valuable years, and many of their young lives in opposing. 
Their experience in camp was not unlike that of other com- 
panies already described, save that they were already at the 
rendezvous and had the pleasure of welcoming all the others, 
being the first in the county to go into camp and organize. It 
was made up of individual volunteers from various towns in 
Western Massachusetts who came into camp and enlisted, 
one at a time, developing in the service as good representatives 
of the volunteer soldiers of the Commonwealth. 

On the 2Lst of June, the Company with others, was mustered 
into the United States service. Monday, the 24th, on invita- 
tion, the soldiers visited the Auburn street school and partook 
of a feast, prepared by the parents of the pupils, at the same 
time being made the recipients of boxes containing all sorts 
of articles useful to the individual in his care for his gamients. 
The third day of July was a memorable one in the annals of 
the Company since on this day the men went by train to 
Indian Orchard in response to an invitation from Mr. Giles 
Brown, agent of the Indian Orchard mills. This was the home 
of the Captain and of his father, the Chaplain of the Regiment. 
Great preparations had been made for the reception of the 
Company and expectations were on tiptoe for the reception 
to be given the young Captain and his men. A handsome 
sword and equipments, purchased by the mill operatives, 
were to be presented to Captain Barton. All went well until 
the moment of the formal presentation arrived. Agent Brown, 
the host of the occasion had been commissioned to represent 



Company' E 415 

the donors in the giving, and was about to perform this pleas- 
ant duty when, seized with an attack of heart disease, in a 
twinkhng he ceased to Hve. 

The festivities of the day were over; the presentation was 
made by Mr. G. F. Ramsdell, the Captain received his gifts, 
as it proved, far more costly than the givers had intended, and 
with hushed spirits and saddened hearts, the soldiers returned 
to their camp, where there were yet a few days of drill and 
routine before leaving for Medford. The same day, either 
before or after the foregoing incident, Lieut. Byron Porter 
was presented with a regulation sword at the Armory, Col. 
H. C. Lee speaking for the Lieutenant's friends. 

(For full explanation of abbreviations, see page 332.) 

COMMISSIONED OFFICERS 

CAPTAINS 

Frederic Barton, b. Collinsville, Conn. ; 20, S. ; , Spring- 
field; June 21, '61; before the War, a member Spring- 
field City Guard; on staff of General F. W. Lander in 
West Va., fall of '61 and spring, '62; on General H. L. 
Eustis's staff after June 14, '63; wd. right leg, Gettys- 
burg; capt. by J. S. Mosby's guerrillas, Oct. 15, '63 
and taken to Richmond; exchanged Feb. 29, '64; 
served on staff of General Oliver Edwards till end of 
service; M. O. July 1, '64; bvt. Major and Lieut. Colonel, 
March 13, '65; inspector, Adams Express Co. ; address, 
1908, Brookline; d. Dec. 9, 1908. 

Edwin Lewis Knight, (G), Nov. 26, '62; wd. left side, May 
12, '64, Spottsvlvania; M. O. July 1, '64; bvt. Major, 
March 13, '65; 'from 1867 to 1891 in heating and plumb- 
ing business, Springfield; owing to ill health, resulting 
from the war. Captain Knight held no civil office, though 
often besought to do so; ever maintaining an active 
interest in public affairs; retiring from business in 1891, 
he has continued to reside in Springfield. 

FIRST LIEUTENANTS 

Bvron Porter, b. Pottsville, Pa.; 31, M.; music teacher, 
Springfield; June 21, '61; prom. Captain, June 16, '62; 
res. and dis. Sept. 7, '62; Captain, Asst. Adj. General, 
U. S. Vols., Aug. 7, '62; M. O. Sept. 1, '66; in the fore- 



416 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

going official capacity he served with the 5th, 8th, 1st 
and 13th Corps until the end of the war, in the interval 
being severely wounded at Fredericksburg and before 
Petersburg, was captured at the Weldon R. R., Aug. 9, 
'64, paroled March 13, '65; after M. O. was retained for 
service in the Freedmen's Bureau, etc., in Texas, until 
May, '68; res. and came home; in 1875, government 
gauger, Springfield; d. Laramie, Wyo., Jan. 18, 1881, 
age 50 years. 

Wallace A. Putnam; July 28, '62; res. Jan. U, '63; later 
Second Lieut, and Captain, 56th Mass.; while in the 
Readville camp was presented by his Company with a 
sword, belt and sash, costing $200.00, as a mark of 
esteem; at Spottsylvania, commanded the Regiment; 
mortally wounded, May 24, at the North Anna; d. at his 
home, June 20, '64; had been commissioned Major, May 
7th, but was never mustered. 

Levi Ross, (F); Nov. 29, '62; M. O. Julv 1, '64; d. Feb. 20, 
1898, State S. H., Erie, Pa., aged 66 years. 

SECOND LIEUTENANTS 

Wallace A. Putnam, b. Dan vers in the house where Israel 
Putnam of Revolutionary fame was born; 23, S. ; teacher. 
South Hadley; June 21, '61; later, elected Lieut, by his 
comrades; prom. First Lieut. 

Simeon N. Eldridge (from First Sergt.. B) ; Nov. 26, '62; 
wd. right arm, May 5, '64, Wilderness, bullet never 
extracted; M. O. July 1, '64; raised Company and com. 
Captain, 61st Mass; dis. 1865; established successful 
painting business in Bridgeport, Conn., where he d. 
Jan. 31, 1879. 

NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS AND PRIVATES 

Adams, Charles E., b. Charlemont; 19, S.; farmer, Williams- 
burg; June 21, '61; re. Dec. 21, '63, cr. Agawam; wd. 
leg. Wilderness; trans. June 19, '64, 37th Mass.; trans. 
June 21, '65, 20th Mass.; M. O. Julv 16, '65; d. Winsted, 
Conn., March, 1903. 

Aiken, Wm. N., b. Ireland; 22, S.; operative. Springfield; 
June 21, '61; wd. Julv 1, '62, Malvern Hill; dis. Sept. 
25, '62, disa. 

Anderson, George W.; b. Springfield; 21, S.; jeweller, 



Company E 417 

Springfield; June 21, '61; Corp., May 12, '64; M. O. 
July 1, '64; was with the Regiment all the time, never 
having been sick or disabled or receiving a furlough; 
since the War, as a Grand Army man, has been Secretary 
of Relief Com. ten years, also has served the Tenth Mass. 
Regt. Association in the same capacity; residence, 1908, 
Springfield. 

Armstrong, James, b. Ireland; 23, — ; moulder, Washington, 
N. J. ; June 21, '61 ; desert. Feb. 27, '62, Brightwood, D. C. 

Ball, John D., b. Montague; 44, M.; shoemaker, Amherst; 
June 21, '61; re. Dec. 21, '63; trans. June 19, '64, 37th 
Mass.; trans. June 21, '65, 20th Mass.; M. O. July 16, 
'65; served entire enlistment in Ambulance Corps; d. 
Amherst, Oct. 17, 1882. 

Barton, Daniel M., b. Ware; 18, S.; shoemaker, Springfield; 

_^ June 21, '61; dis. Aug. 12, '61, disa.; re. Aug. 20, '62; 

wd. May 5, '64, Wilderness; M. O. July 1, '64; in 1907 

purchasing agent, General Electric Co., No. 703 Union 

Street, Schenectady, N. Y. 

Barton, Henry B., b. Moriah, N. Y. ; 21, S.; painter, Spring- 
field; June 21, '61; re. Dec. 21, '63; wd. knee. May 5, 
'64, Wilderness; trans. June 19, '64, 37th Mass.; trans. 
June 21, '65, 20th Mass.; M. 0. July 16, '65; in 1907, 

West Lynn. 

Bassett, Dwight E., b. New Britain, Conn.; 22, S.; mechanic, 
Simsburv, Conn.; June 21, '61; wd. May 3, '63, Salem 
Heights;' trans, Aug. '63, V. R. C; dis. June 22, '64, 
ex. of s. 

Billings, George W., b. Palmer; 19, S.; operative, Monson; 
June 21, '61; M. O. July 1, '64; last twenty-five years in 
Plainfield; from 1893 to 1896 inclusive, selectman; in 
1901-'02 tax collector. 

Black, Levi W., b. Williamsburg; 24, S.; operative, Williams- 
burg; June 21, '61; Corp., March 1, '64; Sergt., May 12, 
'64; wd. neck, Mav 5, '64, Wilderness; M. O. July 1, '64; 
d. Penn Yan, N. Y., May, 1908. 

Black, Lewis T., b. Chesterfield; 21, S.; operative, Williams- 
burg; June 21, '61; Corp., Oct. 15, '62; re. Dec. 21, '63; 
wd. thigh. May 5, '64, Wilderness; Sergt., June 18, '64; 
trans. June 19, '64, 37th Mass.; trans. June 21, '65, 20th 
Mass.; M. O. July 16, '65; in 1872, farmer, Williamsburg; 
always an invalid since the War; d. Feb. 14, 1890. 



418 



The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 




LIEUT. S. N. ELDRIDGE. 
SERG'T. L. W. BLACK, 



J. SKENE, 
H. A. WIGGINS, 



capt. e. l. knight, 
sergt. g. s. wallace. 



Bodman, Samuel C, b. Williamsburg; 22, S.; laborer, Wil- 
liamsburg; June 21, '61; M. 0. July 1, '64; in 1908, 
carriage maker, Florence. 

Bowles, Roslin W., b. Hartford, Conn.; 19, S.; printer, 
Springfield; June 21, '61; Corp., March 10, '62; Sergt., 
Jan. 1, '63; declined promotion in other organizations 
that he might remain with the Tenth ; received commen- 
dation from Col. Parsons for bringing up reinforcements, 
(7th Mass.), at the Wilderness, when the ammunition of 
the Regiment had been exhausted; prom. Sergt. Major. 
(F. and S.); reported dead, 1904. 

Buell, Charles E., (Mus.), b. Wolcottville, Conn.; 20, S.; 
farmer, Wilbraham; June 21, '61; was first enlisted man 
from Wilbraham; struck by piece of shell, while carrying 
wounded from the field at Fair Oaks, he was dis. from 
hosp. April 17, '63; unable to work on the farm he learned 
telegraphy and became a prolific inventor, largely in 
telegraph and telephone lines which became his life work; 



Company E 419 

he was sent by President McKinley, during the Spanish 
War with Dr. H. K. Carroll, as a special commission to 
Porto Rico to report on the condition and needs of the 
island people; d. June, 1903, Atlantic City, N. J. 

Cadwell, Francis E., b. Wilbraham; 21, M. ; operative, Monson; 
June 21, '61; dis. Nov. 23, '62, disa.; later Co. C, First 
Provisional Guards, stationed, Long Island, Boston 
Harbor. 

Cahill, Thomas, b. Northampton; 19, S.; laborer, Northamp- 
ton; June 21, '61; capt. June 27, '62, Savage Station; 
paroled, July 25, '62; trans. Co. F, 24th V. R. C, Jan. 
6, '64; M. O. June 28, '64; 1908, Bridgeport, Conn. 

Carpenter, Andrew, b. Augusta, Me. ; 27, S. ; seaman, Ludlow; 
June 21, '61; dis. March 26, '62, disa. 

Chase, Jonas B., b. Millbury; 26, S.; operative, Milford, 
N. H.; June 21, '61; Corp., Aug. 9, '62; k. May 5, '64, 
Wilderness. 

Clark, Holly C, (R) ; 18, S.; farmer, Becket; Nov. 5, '63; 
trans. June 19, '64, 37th Mass.; wd. April 6, '65, Sailor's 
Creek, left shoulder; dis. from hosp., Baltimore, Md., 
Oct. 5, '65, disa.; teacher, Chester, one term; four years 
Berkeley Co., W. Va.; two years in Mo., six years in 111.; 
lumber business 1881 to 1902, Mt. Morris, 111.; from 
1898 to 1908, postmaster, Mt. Morris; Past Commander, 
Post 720, Dept. 111. 

Clark, Lorin H., (Corp.), b. Brimfield; 33, M.; operative, 
Monson; June 21, '61; dis. Aug. 31, '62, disa.; foreman 
in finishing department, woolen mills, Wales, from dis. 
to his death, 1903. 

Clough, Edgar, (Corp.), b. Springfield; 22, S.; gunsmith, 
Chicopee; June 21, '61; re. Dec. 21, '63; wd. arm. 
May 5, '64, Wilderness; trans. June 19, '64, 37th Mass.; 
dis. Oct. 1, '64, disa.; killed in runaway accident, May 
13, 1866. 

Crawford, Elmer, b. Athol; 23, S.; operative, Springfield; 
June 21, '61; d. White House Landing, June 24, '62. 

Crawford, Samuel, (R), b. New Salem; 26, — ; hostler, Spring- 
field; Sept. 6, '61; wd. hand. May 12, '64, Spottsylvania ; 
trans. June 19, '64, 37th Mass.; dis. Sept. 5, '64, ex. of s.; 
1908, Barre Plain. 

Daniels, George H., b. New London, Conn.; 19, S.; operative, 
Northampton; June 21, '61; M. 0. July 1, '64. 



420 



The Tenth Massachusetts Infaxtry 




G. W. BILLINGS, 



CORP. G. W. ANDERSON, CORP. W. J. TURNER. 



Day, Charles H., b. Springfield; 20, S.; clerk, Springfield; 
June 21, '61; wd. right shoulder, Wilderness; ab. at 
M. O.; dis. June 25, '64, ex. of s.; in 1872, cartridge 
maker, Bridgeport, Conn. 

Day, John T., b. Boscawen, N. H.; 20, S.; operative, Spring- 
field; June 21, '61; Corp., Jan. 1, '63; re. Dec. 21, '63; 
wd. head. Wilderness; trans. June 19, '64, 37th Mass.; 
trans. June 21, '65, 20th Mass.; M. 0. July 16, '65; d. 
Corinth, Vt., Nov. 5, '65. 

Dobyns, Thomas, (Corp.), b. Ireland; 30, S.; operative, 
Chicopee; June 21, '61; lost arm in Wilderness cam- 
paign; ab. at M. O., July 1, '64; had been a member of 
the constabulary force in Ireland; was sent to N. S. H., 
Wisconsin, 1864; rep. dead. 

Donahue, James, b. Ireland; 21, S.; soldier, Saratoga, N. Y.; 
June 21, '61; M. O. July 1, '64; as a member of the 88th 
"Connaught Rangers" served in the Crimea; in 1875, 
Springfield. 

Dunphy, Edmond, b. Ireland; 19, S.; cutler, Northampton; 
June 21, '61; wd. jaw, Salem Heights, and in leg, Wilder- 
dess; M. O. July 1, '64; 1898, Bridgeport, Conn.; "Ed- 
ward Dumphy" on State House rolls. 

Dunn, John, (R), b. Scotland; 28, — ; mechanic, Springfield; 
Sept. 6, '61; desert. Sept. 3, '62, Chain Bridge, Va. 



Company E 421 

Ellis, George, b. Warren; 25, M.; dyer, Monson; June 21, '61; 
Corp. Nov. 13, '63; k. May 12, '64, Spottsylvania. 

Evans, George, b. Ireland; 24, S. ; operative, Palmer; June 
21, '61; wd. July 1, '62, Malvern Hill; re. Dec. 21, '63; 
trans. June 19, '64, 37th Mass.; trans. June 21, '65, 20th 
Mass.; M. O. July 16, '65; d. Palmer, April 3, 1893. 

Foster, Frank A., b. Brooklyn, Conn.; 18, S.; machinist, 
Springfield; June 21, '61; capt. at Savage Station, Va., 
June 26, '62, while in hospital there; later was paroled 
and sent to Annapolis; M. O. July 1, 64; passed through 
the service of his Company without a scar; settling in 
Norwich, Conn., in 1875, he remained till 1888, when he 
removed to Worcester, that his only son might receive 
a technical education; returning to Norwich in 1891, he 
there died, Oct. 16, 1904, a prominent inventor and a 
successful manufacturer of firearms. 

Fowle, John, b. Newburyport; 25, S.; laborer, Newburyport; 
June 21, '61; M. O. July 1, "64; d. Newburyport, April 
18, 1869. 

Frain, Hugh, b. Chesterfield; 18, S. ; laborer, Springfield; 
June 21, '61; desert. Sept. 30, '61. 

French, Henry O., b. Hinsdale; 19, S.; mechanic, Northamp- 
ton; June 21, '61; d. tvphoid fever. Young's Mills, near 
Warwick, Va., April 19, '62, the first of Co. E to die; 
"A great favorite with his comrades." — E. L. K. 

Gaffney, John L., (Mus.), b. Ireland; 38, M.; musician, Chico- 
pee; June 21, '61; dis. April 30, '62, disa.; re. Aug. 30, 
'62, drum major, 37th Mass.; dis. June 21, '65; in 1872, 
Haydenville; d. Jan. 26, 1889, N. S. H.,Togus, Me. 

Gassner, George, Jr., b. Chicopee; 23, S.; laborer, Springfield; 
June 21, '61; M. O. Julv 1, '64; in 1872, machinist, 
Chicopee Falls; d. Dec. 26, 1885. 

Gassner, James C, b. Lowell; 20, S.; machinist, Springfield; 
June 21, '61; First Sergt., Nov. 1, '62; on recruiting 
service for Second Mass. Cav., Boston, six months; prom. 
Second Lieut., Nov. 26, '62, declined and was dis. Dec. 
28, '62, O. W. D.; in 1869, machinist, Chicopee; 1908, 
Springfield, (41 Oak Grove Ave.) 

Gibson, Thomas, b. Melrose, N. Y.; 19, S.; operative, Spring- 
field; June 21, '61; dis. Oct. 11, '62, disa. 

Graves, Horace W., (Wagoner), b. Conway; 37, M.; tanner, 
Conway; June 21, '61; served the most of his time as 
government teamster, Washington; M. O. July 1, '64. 



422 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

Green, Isaac N., b. Shutesbury; 23, S.; operative, Spring- 
field; June 21, '61; M. O. July 1, '64; d. Shutesbury, 
Aug. 29, 1873. 

Hall, Charles M., b. Hallowell, Me.; 21, M.; moulder, Spring- 
field; June 21, '61; d. May 6, '62, from wds. received on 
the third, Salem Heights. 

Hamill, John J., b. Newburgh, N. Y.; 22, S.; operative, 
Springfield; June 21, '61; Corp., June 26, '64; M. O. 
July 1, '64. 

Harris, Seneca J., (R), b. Wilbraham; 20, S.; operative, 
Brightwood, D. C; Aug. 30, '61; dis. Oct. 9, '62, disa.; 
1908, South Norwalk, Conn. 

Hastings, Henry A., (R), b. Bernardston; 29, — ; mechanic, 
Greenfield; Sept. 6, '61; trans. June 19, '64, 37th Mass.; 
dis. Sept. 10, '64, ex. of s.; he was the oldest of four 
brothers who enlisted; d. July 15, 1902. 

Hayden, Elbridge F., b. Chesterfield; 23, S.; carpenter, 
Conway; June 21, '61; dis. Aug. 9, '61, disa.; in 1873, 
Westhampton; rep. dead 1900. 

Hazleton, Andrew J., b. Southwick; 18, S.; machinist, West- 
field; June 21, '61; M. 0. July 1, '64. 

Hebert, Constantine, b. France; 22, S.; clerk, Springfield; 
June 21, '61; desert. Dec. 11, '62. 

Hebert, Eugene, b. France; 27, S.; cabinet maker, Spring- 
field; June 21, '61; desert. Dec. 13, '61, Brightwood, 
D. C. 

Hickey, Charles, b. Northampton; 19, S.; laborer, Northamp- 
ton; June 21, '61; re. Dec. 21, '63; wd. leg, May 5, '64, 
Wilderness; trans. June 19, '64, 37th Mass.; trans. 
Nov., '64, V. R. C; dis. July 20, '65, ex. of s.; 1908, 
Northampton. 

Hitchcock. Luther, b. Springfield; 20, S.; carpenter. South 
Hadley; June 21, '61; wd. Wilderness; M. 0. Julv 1, '64; 
1907, Titusville, Fla. 

Jamison, Quintain, b. Scotland; 37, S.; watch maker, Spring- 
field; June 21, '61; d. Sept. 10, '62, Finley Hospital, 
Baltimore, of disease; had served in the British Army. 

Jones, Horace L., b. Wilbraham; 19, S.; carpenter, Spring- 
field; June 21, '61; dis. Nov. 11, '62, disa. 

Jones, Ira L., b. Pelham; 21, S.; laborer, Enfield; June 21, 



Company E 423 

'61; re. Dec. 21, '63; trans. June 19, '64, 37th Mass.; 
trans. June 21, '65, 20th Mass.; M. O. July 16, '65; in 
1907, Greenwich; also Ira "B." 
Xilroy, James, b. Ireland; 29, S.; laborer, Holyoke; June 21, 

'61; wd. Malvern Hill; M. O. July 1, '64. 
Knight, Edwin Lewis, (First Sergt.), b. Brimfield; 22, S.; 
bookkeeper, Springfield; June 21, '61; prom. Second 
Lieut. (G). 
Lewis, William J., b. Palmer; 18, S.; laborer, Springfield; 
June 21, '61; dis. July 13, '62, disa.; d. Nov. 29, 1894, 
East Hartford, Conn. 
Londergan, James R., (R), b. Ireland; 20, S.; laborer, North- 
ampton; Feb. 29, '64; wd. hand, Wilderness; trans. 
June 19, '64, 37th Mass.; dis. June 9, '65, O. W. D.; 
d. Northampton, July 30, 1886. 
-J^Ortscher, Christian, (Corp.), b. Switzerland; 25, S.; machin- 
ist, Springfield; June 21, '61; as Color Corp., d. June 16, 
'62 of wds. received May 31, '62, Fair Oaks; State House 
rolls say "Lortscherve." 
McFarlane, Charles, (Sergt.), b. Scotland; 20, S.; operative, 
Ludlow; June 21, '61; k. July 1, '62, Malvern Hill, while 
helping Major Miller, then mortally wounded. 
Mclntire, Charles C, b. Hyde Park, N. Y.; 27, M.; teamster, 

Northampton; June 21, '61; desert. Sept. 26, '61. 
McNeil, John, b. Albany, N. Y. ; 18, S.; operative, Spring- 
field; June 21, '61; re. Dec. 21, '63; desert. Jan. 21, '64, 
while on furlough. 
Merriam, John Q. A., b. Holden; 23, S.; harness maker, 

Enfield; June 21, '61; M. O. July 1, '64; 1908, Dana. 
Miller, Edmund, b. Germany; 33, M.; harness maker, En- 
field; June 21, '61; dis. Sept. 26, '62, disa.; later, Co. K, 
Second Mass. Cav. 
Kichols, Henrv L., b. East Hampton, Conn. ; 23, S. ; mechanic, 
Northampton; June 21, '61; M. O. July 1, '64; in 1872, 
Northampton; 1908, rep. in S. H., Lafayette, Ind. 
O'Brien, John, (R), b. Ireland; 22, S.; laborer, Northampton; 
Feb. 29, '64; wd. leg. May 12, '64, Spottsylvania ; trans. 
June 19, '64, 37th. Mass.; trans. June 21, '65, 20th 
Mass.; M. O. July 16, '65. 
O'Hara, Henry J., b. New York City; 22, S.; mechanic, New 
York; June 21, '61; wd. July 1, '62, Malvern Hill; dis. 
Sept. 29, '62, disa.; in 1872, Holyoke. 



424 The Tenth Massachusetts Ixfantry 

Otis, Charles M., b. Chester; 19, S.; blacksmith, Huntington; 
June 21, '61; dis. Nov. 8, '62, disa.; dead. 

Paddock, Ichabod S., b. Hoosick Falls, N. Y. ; 22, S. ; mechanic, 
Springfield; June 21, '61; Corp., July 2, '62; Sergt., 
March 1, '64; re. Dec. 21, '63, cr. Agawam; wd. May 12, 
'64 and obliged to use crutches until Dec, '64; trans. 
June 19, '64, 37th Mass.; trans. June 21, '65, 20th Mass.; 
M. O. July 16, '65; in 1872, Hinsdale; 1908, North 
Pownal, Vt. 

Pelton, Albert E., b. Northampton; 21, S.; dyer, Williams- 
burg; June 21, '61; re. Dec. 21, '63; trans. June 19, 
'64, 37th Mass.; d. April 20, '65, City Point, Va. 

Phillips, Alvah C, (Sergt.), b. Brattleboro, Vt.; 20, S.; 
butcher, Springfield; June 21, '61; d. Gettysburg, Pa., 
Oct. 3, '63, of wds. received there July 2, '63. 

Porter, George W., b. Northampton; 23, S.; teacher, Enfield; 
June 21, '61; at M. O. July 1, '64, clerk at Harwood 
Hospital, D. C. 

Porter, Peter, b. England; 29, S.; soldier, Springfield; June 
21, '61; M. O. July 1, "64; after the war returned to the 
old country. 

Potter, Edward T., b. Palmer; 19, S.; farmer, Monson; 
June 21, '61; re. Dec. 21, '63, cr. Palmer; capt. May 18, 
'64, Spottsylvania ; prisoner at Andersonville nine months ; 
trans. June 19, '64, 37th Mass.; trans. June 21, '65, 20th 
Mass.; M. O. July 16, '65; 1908, dairy farmer, Ludlow. 

Potvin, Charles, b. Canada; 22, S.; painter, Springfield; 
June 21, '61; re. Dec. 21, '63; desert. Jan. 14, '64, while 
on furlough. 

Prickett, Jesse. (Corp.), b. Hazardville, Conn.; 20, vS.; opera- 
tive, Wilbraham; June 21, '61; Sergt. Aug. 9, '62; 
First Sergt., Jan. 1, '63; re. Dec. 21, '63; wd. leg, Spott- 
sylvania; trans. June 19, '64, 37th Mass.; prom. Second 
Lieut, to date from May 15, '64; res. May 21, '65; in 
1872, tallyman, B. & A. R. R., Pittsfield; died Sept. 
8, 1908. Pittsfield. 

Ramsdell, Henrv L., b. Hardwick; 21, S.; carpenter, Spring- 
field; June'21, '61; dis. Oct. 1, '61, disa.; 1898, Olathe, 
Kan. 

Rice, Sylvanus Newell, b. Hawley; 24, S.; laborer, Spring- 
field; June 21, '61; re. Dec. 21, '63, cr. Agawam; trans. 
June 19, '64, 37th Mass.; trans. June 21, '65, 20th Mass.; 
M. O. July 16, '65; d. Aug. '91. 



Co^MPANl" E 



42i: 




F. A. FOSTER, 



SERG'T. S. C. WARRINER, 



GEO. GASSNER, JR. 



Richards, Reuben A., b. Tyringham; 24, S.; laborer, Hunt- 
ington; June 21, '61; desert. Nov. 25, '61. 

Scott, James L., b. Brattleboro, Vt.; 18, S.; student, Spring- 
field; June 21, '61; re. Dec. 21, '63; Corp., March 1, '64; 
trans. June 19, '64, 37th Mass.; trans. June 21, '65, 20th 
Mass.; M. O. July 16, '65; for five years after discharge 
a clerk, Springfield P. O.; in 1870, Indianapolis, Ind., 
passing. his life in almost all phases of R. R. employ, 
till his death, May, 1898; bur. in Springfield. 

Shannon, Thomas, (R), b. Ireland; 21, S.; laborer, Pitts- 
field; Feb. 24, '62; re. Dec. 21, '63; wd. scalp. Wilder- 
ness; trans. June 19, '64, 37th Mass.; trans. June 21, '65, 
20th Mass. ; M. O. July 16, '65. 

Shehan, Timothy, b. Ireland; 20, S.; laborer, Springfield; 
June 21, '61; dis. Dec. 8, '62, disa.; d. Dec. 23, 1886, 
N. S. H., Togus, Me. 

Shene, James, b. Westfield; groom, Springfield; June 21, '61; 
wd. Malvern Hill, arm and still carries the bullet; M. 0. 
July 1, '64; was orderly at Div. Headquarters, Antietam; 
at Fredericksburg, was hurt by a horse falhng on him, 
and was sent to the rear from Warrenton; returned at 
Culpeper; has been Aide on Department Commander's 
StafT and Capt. of the Guard, E. K. Wilcox Post, Spring- 
field; 1908, Springfield. 

Skidmore, Wm. J., b. Quincy; 21, S.; laborer, Monson; June 
21, '61; re. Dec. 21, '63; wd. scalp, Wilderness; d. soon 
after wound at "Soldier's Rest," in Springfield. 



-426 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

Smith, Wm. Henry, b. Boston; 20, S.; operative, Monson; 
June 21, '61; re. Dec. 31, '63, cr. Barre; trans. June 19, 
'64, 37th Mass.; trans. June 21, '65, 20th Mass.; M. O. 
July 16, '65; 1908, 29 Perkins Street, Lowell. 

Spellman, Charles E., b. West Granville; 18, S.; laborer, 
Simsbury, Conn.; June 21, '61; re. Dec. 21, '63, cr. 
Longmeadow ; trans. June 19, '64, 37th Mass.; wd. 
April 6, '65, Sailor's Creek; ab. at trans. June 21, '65, 
20th Mass.; dis. from hosp. David's Island, New York 
Harbor, Oct. 14, '65; 1908, York, Neb. 

Squires, John E., (Sergt.), b. Hartford, Conn.; 23, S.; laborer, 
South Hadley; June 21, '61; re. Dec. 21, '63; trans. 
June 19, '64, 37th Mass.; trans. June 21, '65, 20th Mass.; 
M. O. July 16, '65; in 1872, running a sawmill, Montague; 
d. June 9, 1886. 

Talbot, George W., b. Poquonock, Conn.; 25, S.; painter, 
Springfield; June 21, '61; Corp. Jan. 1, '63; wd. neck, 
Spottsylvania ; ab. at M. O., July 1, '64; 1898, painting 
business, East Granby, Conn.; 1909, Tariffville, Conn. 

Templeman, John W., b. Halifax, N. S.; 23, S.; cabinetmaker, 
Dorchester; June 21, '61; re. Dec. 21, '63; d. June 6, '64, 
of wds. received at the Wilderness. 

Thompson, Charles H., b. Hardwick; jeweller, Northampton; 
June 21, '61; dis. Aug. 9, '61, disa. 

Thompson, Charles W., (Corp.), b. Chicopee; 20, S.; operative, 
Chicopee; June 21, '61; Sergt., Nov. 1, '62; k. May 
12, '64, Spottsylvania. 

Thompson, George W., (R), b. Chicopee; 20, S. ; cloth dresser, 
Chicopee; Jan. 13, '64, cr. Springfield; trans. June 19, 
'64, 37th Mass.; trans. June 21, '65, 20th Mass.; M. O. 
July 16, '65. 

Thompson, Wm., b. Scotland; 38, S.; weaver, Springfield; 
June 21, '61; d. from wds. received at Spottsylvania; 
was an old English soldier. 

Tinkham, Alfred H., b. Enfield; 35, M.; shoemaker. South 
Hadley; June 21, '61; dis. as Corp., March 10, '62, disa. 

Turner, Charles R., (R), b. Becket; 19, S.; farmer, Becket; 
Nov. 13, '63; trans. June 19, '64, 37th Mass.; trans. 
June 21, '65, 20th Mass.; M. 0. Julv 16, '65; d. West- 
field, Feb. 4, 1904. 

'Turner, Wm. J., b. Becket; 25, S.; farmer, Chester; June 



Company E 427 

21, '61; Corp., Julv 2, '62; wd. ankle, Marye's Heights, 
May 3, '63; ^M. O/july 1, '64; 1908, fanner, Chester. 

Wallace, Gideon S., (Corp.), b. Lawrence, N. Y.; 22, S.; 
blacksmith, Russell; June 21, '61; Sergt., Aug. 9, '62; 
M. O. July 1, '64; through injuries to his eyes during the 
War, he was obliged to give up blacksmithing; removing 
to Springfield he learned carpentry and there d. Feb. 
13, 1907. 

Walsh, James, b. Northampton; 20, S.; fireman, Northamp- 
ton; June 21, '61; wd. leg, Salem Heights, May 3, '63;. 
re. Dec. 21, '63; wd. May 12, '64, Spottsylvania; Corp., 
May 12, '64; trans. June 19, '64, 37th Mass.; trans. June 
21, '65, 20th Mass.; M. 0. July 16, '65; rep. dead; State 
House rolls give "Welch." 

Warrillow, Wm., b. Canterbury Conn.; 18, S.; machinist, 
Chicopee; June 21, '61; re. Dec. 21, '63, cr. Longmeadow; 
wd. hand, Spottsylvania; trans. June 19, '64, 37th 
Mass.; trans. June 21, '65, 20th Mass.; M. O. July 16, 
'65; State House rolls give "Warrillon;" 1908, South 
Manchester, Conn; also rep. at N. S. H., Togus, Me. 

Warriner, Stephen C; b. Monson; 21, S.; teacher, Monson;. 
June 21, '61; Sergt., Nov. 1, '61; served with the Tenth 
through all of its engagements up to the date of his dis., 
July 28, '62, for Com. as Capt., 36th Mass.; participated 
in the varied experience of that regiment at Vicksburg 
and Jackson, Miss., the siege of Knoxville, Tenn., etc., 
until April 22, '64, when he res. and came back to Mass.; 
since 1875, insurance business, Springfield; Common 
Council, 1878, Alderman, 1890, Representative in Legis- 
lature, 1893, 1894 and 1895; Commander, Post 65 and. 
of Post 16. 

Wiggins, Francis H. B., b. Ausable, N. Y.; 19, S.; operative, 
Springfield; June 21, '61; dis. Nov. 9, '62, to re. U. S. A.; 
dis. April 7, '63, Batterv G, 2d U. S. Light Artillery, disa.; 
d. Aug. 1, 1864, Chicopee Falls. 

Wiggins, Henry A., b. Clinton ville, N. Y.; 21, S.; operative, 
Springfield; June 21, '61; re. Dec. 21, '63; wd. left 
thigh, Mav 5, '64; lay on hosp. bed thirteen months, 
some of the time not expected to live; dis. from David's 
Island, N. Y. harbor, Sept. 21, '65; meantime, had been 
twice trans, to the 37th and the 20th Mass.; in 1870, 
was elected constable and collector, Cohoes, N. Y., serving. 



428 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

two years ; has been''Junior and Senior Vice-Commander, 
H. V. Smith Post. G. A. R.. Athol; invahd from wd., 
retired, 1904; 1908, Worcester, (40 Lake St.). 

"Williams, Preserved W., b. Warwick; 24, S.; operative, 
Springfield; June 21, '61; dis. March 4, '63, disa. 

Williston, John R., b. Russell; 23, S.; farmer, Russell; June 
21, '61; desert. Nov. 25, '61; later served a full enlist- 
ment in a regiment from another state. 

Witherell, Albert, b. Northampton; 23, S.; laborer. South 
Hadlev; June 21, '61; detailed on ambulance train, 
Sept. "'62; re. Dec. 21, '63; trans. June 19, '64, 37th 
Mass.; trans. June 21, '65, 20th Mass.; M. O. July 16, '65; 
1908, 129 E. 177th Street, New York. 

Winslow, Shubael M., b. Nantucket; 21, S.; shoemaker, 
Springfield, cr. Nantucket; June 21, '61; re. Dec. 21, 
'63; trans. June 19, '64, 37th Mass.; d. of wds. in Wash- 
ington, April 21, '65. 

Woodman, Henry N., b. Springfield; 20, S.; laborer, Spring- 
field; June 21, '61; partially paralyzed by a shell at 
Gettysburg; dis. from hosp. New York, June 21, '64, ex. 
of s.; in 1872, painter, Springfield; 1909, baggage master, 
B. & A. R. R., Agawam. 

COMPANY F, SPRINGFIELD CITY GUARD 

The Springfield City Guard was organized in 1852 and from 
the start was popular, drawing to its ranks some of the best 
young men of the city and, in later years, many of the leading 
men of Springfield have considered their service in this Com- 
pany one of the proudest features of their earlier days. The 
first Captain, John B. Wyman, afterwards commanded the 
Chicago Light Guard and, as Colonel of the 13th Illinois 
Regiment, was killed in front of Vicksburg, Dec. 28, 1862. 
Horace C. Lee, afterwards Colonel of the 27th Mass., was the 
commander for several years. Other Captains were Wilham 
L. Smith, Esq., later Mayor of the city, John Taylor and 
Hosea C. Lombard, in command at the outbreak of the War. 
Perhaps no military organization in the western portions of 
the Commonwealth enjoyed a higher reputation and, when 
the Prince of Wales was received in Boston in October, 1860, 
the City Guard was chosen to represent the Militia of Western 
Massachusetts. As an indication of the military spirit and 
skill the Company gave its members, it should be stated that 



Company F 429 

it furnished no less than forty commissioned officers for 
service during the war. At the very onset of hostihties, the 
Guard volunteered its services and anxiously awaited the 
summons which should send it to Washington. While dis- 
appointed in this regard, the men did excellent work in 
guarding the U.S. Armory of Springfield, whose safety many 
thought in danger through plotting Rebel emissaries. Very 
likely their care and vigilance preserved the arsenal for its 
subsequent career of usefulness. As with the other Com- 
panies of the Tenth, they were provided with a handsome gray 
uniform, nearly half the expense of which was borne by Chester 
W. Chapin, one of Springfield's wealthiest and most Hberal 
citizens, the city paying the balance. Nor were the individuals 
of the Company forgotten, since July 2, at a large assem- 
blage of former members and friends in the Company's 
Armory, Lieut. George W. Bigelow was presented with a 
handsome regulation sword and equipments, a tribute of 
regard from his old associates in the Company. Homer G. 
Gilmore, the Orderly Sergeant, was similarly remembered 
by George K. Jacobs and Charles Gibbs, fellow workmen in 
the pistol factory of Smith & Wesson. Former Captain Wm. 
L. Smith, was the orator of the occasion. Lieut. Keith was 
given an elegant sword by Wm. L. Wilcox and a handsome 
knapsack by other friends. The final act of local recognition 
was a farewell ball and jubilee, July 12, in the City Hall, thus 
assembhng a large number of people, both civil and military. 
Nor was poetry lacking as the Guard departed, since the 
strains of Dixie were adapted to a Union song by a local 
writer. 

(For full explanation of abbreviations, see page 332.) 

COMMISSIONED OFFICERS 

CAPTAINS 

Hosea C. Lombard, b. Springfield; pistol maker, Springfield; 
May 31, '61; res. Nov. 2, '62; for twelve years preceding 
the war he had been connected with the militia and in 
1861 was Captain of the Springfield City Guard; com- 
manded the Guard again after the war; in 1873, was 
Chief Engineer of the Fire Department, Springfield, and 
in 1875 was an officer of the city police force; later was 
a deputy sheriff of Hampden County, and died while 
holding that office. 



430 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

George W. Bigelow; Nov. 3, '62 from "K;" wd. Spottsyl- 
vania; M. O. July 1, '64; bvt. Major, March 13, '65; 
in 1909, 4 Union Park St., Boston. 

FIRST LIEUTENANTS 

Hiram A. Keith, b. Mendon; 28, M.; tinman, Springfield; 
May 31, '61; during the greater part of his service was 
Acting Adjutant; cashiered, Nov. 25, '62; for several 
years he had been connected with the City Guard; in 
1873, commercial traveller, Springfield; d. Wilbraham, 
1907. 

Homer G. Gilmore, from Co. I, Aug. 9, '62; prom. Captain, (D). 

Lemuel Oscar Eaton; Nov. 26, '62 from First Sergt.; wd. 
left knee at Malvern Hill and in left thigh. May 5, '64, 
Wilderness; M. O. July 1, '64; bvt. Captain, March 13, '65; 
until his retirement from business, Jan. 1, 1907, contrac- 
tor and builder, Springfield; member of E. K. Wilcox 
Post G. A. R.; member Builders' Exchange of which 
he was President two years; 1908, Springfield. 

SECOND lieutenants 

George W. Bigelow, b. Fairhaven, Vt.; 32, S.; printer, 
Springfield; May 31, '61; prom. First Lieut.; had been 
a member of the militia a dozen years before the war. 

Henry E. Crane; July 12, '62, from First Sergt.; dis. Nov. 
25, '62; later in Co. I, 3d Mass. Heavy Artillery, whence, 
according to Newell, he was dis. Jan. 5, '65 for Com. in 
Colored Troops. 

Terry S. Noble, (K) ; Nov. 26, '62; wd. hand Salem Heights, 
May 3, '63; res. Nov. 24, '63; in 1908, Westfield. 

NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS AND PRIVATES 

(Date of beginning duty, May 31, is given instead of June 21, 
muster-in.) 

Adams, Henry S., b. Lowell; 21, S.; clerk, Chicopee; May 
31, '61; dis. Sept. 8, '62 for. Com. First Lieut, and Ad- 
jutant, 3d Mass. Cav.; res. Nov. 10, '63; dead. 

Adams, John C, b. Lowell; 24, S.; clerk, Chicopee; May 
31, '61; dis. April 27, '63, disa.; dead. 

Allen, Eugene A., (Sergt.), b. Springfield; 25, S.; salesman, 



Company F 



431 




C. D. UFFORD, 
J. H. HENDRICK, 



CORP. J. L. KNIGHT, 
WM. O. REGAN, 



LIEUT. L. O. EATON, 
CORP. L. F. BABCOCK. 



Springfield; May 31, '61; dis. Sept. 30, '62 for Com. as 
Captain, 37th Mass.; prom. Major, Jan. 17, '63; res. 
Nov. 25, '63; in 1875, Springfield; an old City Guard 
man; dead. 

Averill, Lorenzo T., b. Lowell; 19, S.; machinist, Spring- 
field; May 31, '61; Corp., March 8, '61; struck by 
piece of shell, Marye's Heights, May 3, '63; wd. Spottsyl- 
vania, May 12, '64; M. O. July 1, '64; 1908, U. S. 
Government Gauger, Springfield. 

Babcock, Lucius F., (Corp.), b. Windsor, Conn.; 25, M.; 
carpenter, Springfield; May 31, '61; M. O. July 1, '64; 
during the greater part of his service was on detail at 
headquarters of 4th or 8th Army Corps as orderly; in 
March, '64, appointed U. S. special detective; after M. O. 
was reappointed a special officer and held the position 
till Dec, '65; has in his possession an unsoHcited letter 



432 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

of commendation, signed by General John Woolley and 
endorsed by Maj. General Lew Wallace; in 1907, Vine- 
land, N. J.; borne as "Lucien" on State House rolls. 

Barnard, Mark C, b. Warren, N. H.; 27, S.; teamster, 
Springfield; May 31, '61; d. Nov. 23, '61, Washington, 
D. C. 

Bartlett, Abner T., b. Warren; 25, S.; baker, Springfield; 
May 31, '61 ; dis. Dec. 12, '62, disa. ; 1909, Cane Valley, Ky. 

Bartlett, Edwin B., (Corp.), b. Holden; 22, S.; clerk, Spring- 
field; May 31, '61; prom. Sergt. Major; was an old mem- 
ber of the City Guard. 

Blake, Joseph W., b. Derry, N. H.; 27, M.; blacksmith, 
Chicopee; May 31, '61; M. O. July 1,' 64; had the almost 
unrivaled distinction of never losing a day's service, since 
he was not sick nor wounded nor did he receive a fur- 
lough from first to last; in 1869, working in chair fac- 
tory. East Templeton; dead. 

Bliss, Charles, b. Springfield; 21, S.; clerk, Springfield; May 
31, '61; dis. April 30, '62, disa.; in 1875, Springfield; dead. 

Bolton, Lemuel M., (R), b. New York City; 19, S.; farmer. 
Heath; Sept. 12, '61; re. Dec. 21, '63; trans. June 19, 
'64, 37th Mass.; prom. Sergt.; k. April 6, '65, Sailor's 
Creek. 

Boyden, Charles O., b. Haydenville; 19, S.; tinsmith, Chico- 
pee; May 31, '61; wd. hip and capt. Malvern Hill; 
retained at Libby Prison two months; on parole, was 
sent to David's Island, N. Y. Harbor; dis. Nov. 19, 
'62, disa.; in 1875, Worcester; rep. d. 1898. 

Brady, Benjamin P., b. Sheldon, Vt.; 28, S.; blacksmith, 
Belchertown; May 31, '61; M. O. July 1, '64; was one 
of the men who went into the gunboat service and 
Newell says did not return to the Regiment. 

Britt, Patrick, (R), b. Ireland; 35, M.; laborer, Montague; 
Aug. 14, '62; re. Dec. 21, '63; trans. June 19, '64, 37th 
Mass.; trans. June 21, '65, 20th Mass.; M. O. July 16, '65. 

Burbank, James H., b. Hartford, Conn.; 26, S.; seaman, 
Springfield; May 31, '61 ; lost right leg, Salem Heights, May 
3, '63; was sent to Lovell General Hospital, Portsmouth 
Grove, R. I., where he was librarian till dis. Feb. 2, '64, 
disa.; in 1873, skate maker, Springfield; a former 
member of the City Guard; died March 3rd, 1909; age 
72; buried at Friendship, New Jersey. 



Company E 433 

Burke, Thomas F., b. Springfield; 24, S.; clerk, Springfield; 

May 31, '61; k. July 1, '62, Malvern Hill. 
Chapin, Henry M., (R), b. Springfield; 22, S.; machinist, 

Springfield; Sept. 11, '62; wd. right arm, Salem Heights, 

and in side. Cold Harbor, June 3, '64; M. O. July 1, '64; 

in 1909, Merrick. 

Clark, John W., b. Otis; 24, S.; clerk, Springfield; May 31, 
'61; dis. Aug. 12, '61, disa.; though credited to Spring- 
field, he was the first man to enlist from SandisfieldJ 
his early disa. arose from exposure while having measles) 
on recovery, went to Hartford, Conn.; was drafted, 
July 15, '63, and detailed at State Arsenal in care of 
military stores under direction of Q. M. General; after 
the war, in South Windsor, Conn., serving fifteen years 
as grand juror; in 1907, East Windsor Hill, Conn. 

Clark, Montreville H., b. Ludlow; 25, S.; tailor, Springfield; 
May 31, '61; wd. arm, Fair Oaks; dis. Dec. 31, '62, disa. 

Cole, Cyrus, (R), b. Warren; 44, M.; hatter, Springfield; 
Jan. 5, '64; trans. June 19, '64, 37th Mass.; trans. June 
21, '65, 20th Mass.; M. O. July 16, '65; d. Sept., 1875, 
Springfield. 

Colton, Nathaniel W., b. West Springfield; 24, S. ; boot maker, 
Springfield; May 31, '61; dis. Oct. 15, '62, disa.; in 1870, 
boot maker, Worcester; S. H., California. 

Cooley, Orrin B., (Corp.), b. Longmeadow; 34, M.; spectacle 
maker, Longmeadow; May 31, '61; re. Feb. 20, '64; 
trans, as Sergt., June 19, '64, 37th Mass.; prom. Second 
Lieut., 17th Mass., Feb. 7, '65; First Lieut., June 1, '65; 
M. O. July 11, '65; in 1875, Longmeadow; dead. 

Coomes, Edwin P., b. Springfield; 24, S.; spectacle maker, 
Longmeadow; May 31, '61; wd. hand, Spottsylvania ; 
Sergt., June 15, '64; M. O. July 1, '64; served one year 
in Hancock's Veteran Corps; in 1872, jeweller, Bridge- 
port, Conn.; d. 1906; Newell has "Edward." 

Coomes, Elias, b. Sharon, Vt.; 24, S.; thimble maker, Long- 
meadow; May 31, '61; k. May 31, '62, Fair Oaks. 

Crane, Henry E., (Sergt.), b. Springfield; 23, M.; carpenter, 
Springfield; May 31, '61; First Sergt., Jan. 6, '62; prom. 
Second Lieut.; had been an active member of the City 
Guard. 

Currier, John W., Jr., (Sergt.), b. North Troy, Vt.; 25, S.; 
clerk, Springfield; May 31, '61; dis. Jan. 6, '62, for com. 



434 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

First Lieut, and Adjutant, 1st Va. (loyal) Volunteers; 
res. after battle of Williamsburg and was appointed by 
the W. D., trade agent, Army of the Potomac; in this 
capacity led a varied and exciting career, encountering 
Mosby and his men ; while Cold Harbor was in progress, 
he was designated by the Provost Marshal General to 
furnish officers' clothing and equipments for the Potomac 
Army; establishing his quarters at City Point, he re- 
mained till after the surrender of Lee; in 1875, Troy, Vt. ; 
d. 1905. 

Cutler, Joseph Warren, b. Jackson, N. Y.; 26, S.; boot treer, 
West Brookfield; May 31, '61; Corp., Dec. 16, '61; 
Sergt., Feb., '63; M. O. July 1, '64; was the first volun- 
teer from West Brookfield; d. May 18, '72, West Brook- 
field. 

Daly, Lewis L., b. Cambridge; 23, S.; tinman, Cambridge; 
May 31, '61; wd. head. Fair Oaks; Corp., Aug. 16, '62; 
Sergt., March 8, '64; M. O. July 1, '64; at last account, 
South Boston. 

Damon, Sylvanus C, b. Chesterfield; 24, M.; hair dresser, 
Springfield; May 31, '61; dis. Sept. 28, '62, disa.; was 
a former member of the City Guard; in 1907, resided in 
Chesterfield where he has been highway surveyor and 
school committeeman. 

Day, William H., b. Easthampton; 24, S.; hair dresser, 
Chicopee; May 31, '61; wd. left leg, Gettysburg; trans. 
V. R. C. as Corp. and dis. June 22, '64; in 1869, Hunting- 
ton; 1908, Westfield. 

Dresser, George N., b. Templeton; 19, S.; Clerk, Springfield; 
May 31, '61; after Fredericksburg, served as clerk at 
division headquarters until end of service; M. 0. July 
1, '64; in 1873, Springfield; 1908. S. H., Chelsea. 

Duncan, George H., b. England; 19, S.; clerk, Springfield; 
May 31, '61; M. O. July 1, '64; in 1875, Springfield; 
dead. 

Earle, WilHam W., b. Hebron, Conn.; 24, S.; tanner, Wales; 
May 31, '61; M. O. July 1, '64; in 1875, painter, Spring- 
field; died 1906 or 1907. 

Eaton, Lemuel Oscar, (Corp.), b. Springfield; 28, S.; car- 
penter, Springfield; May 31, '61: Sergt., Dec. 16, '61; 
First Sergt., Dec. 31, '61; prom. First Lieut.; was a 
former member of the Citv Guard. 



CoMP.VNY F 4S5 

Ellis, Chester S., b. Windsor Locks, Conn.; 20, S.; carpenter, 
Springfield; May 31, '61; wd. Malvern Hill; trans. 
Dec. 5, '63, First Mass. Battery; re. Dec. 23, '63, or. 
West Cambridge; trans. March 12, '65, 9th Mass. Battery; 
dis. June 6, '65, ex. of s.; d. March 9, 1870, Springfield. 

Ennis, Dennis D., b. Frederickton, N. B.; 20, S.; tailor, 
Chicopee; May 31, '61; dis. Sept. 12, '62, disa. 

Gates, Emory B., b. Longmeadow; 23, S.; armorer. Long- 
meadow; May 31, '61; trans. V. R. C, Nov. 23, '63; 
M. O. July 1, '64; in 1869, bookkeeper, New York City; 
d. S. H., California, 1904. 

Gaynard, Thomas H., b. New York City; 20, S.; manufac- 
turer, Chicopee; May 31, '61; wd. May 31, '62, Fair 
Oaks; dis. Aug. 26, '62, disa.; "Genard" on State 
House rolls. 

Gilmore, Homer G., (First Sergt.), b. West Claremont, N. H.; 
23, S.; pistol maker, Springfield; May 31, '61; prom. 
Second Lieut., Nov. 6, '61 (I); was an active member of 
the City Guard on enlistment. 

Gilmore, Wm. S., b. Franklin; 27, S.; machinist, Springfield; 
May 31, '61; dis. March 12, '62, disa. 

Gleason, Charles F., (R), b. Heath; 20, S.; farmer, Spring- 
field; Sept. 12, '61; dis. Oct. 7, '62, disa. 

Gleason, Thomas S., (R), b. Heath; 18, S.; farmer, Spring- 
field; Sept. 12, '61; k. May 31, '62, Fair Oaks. 

Goff, John B., b. Palmer; 21, S.; machinist, Chicopee; Mav 
31, '61; ab. sick at M. 0., July 1, '64; in 1875, stationary 
enigneer, Fortress Monroe; dead. 

Goodale, Henry W., (R), b. Hartford, Conn; 25, M.; polisher, 
Springfield; Aug. 22, '62; M. 0. July 1, '64; in 1872, 
Springfield; d. 1906. 

Gorman, Hugh L., b. Springfield; 24, M.; pistol maker, 
Springfield; May 31. '61; wd. shoulder, while Color 
Corporal, Fair Oaks, May 31, '62; dis. Aug. 11, '62, disa.; 
in 1875, Providence, R. L; dead. 

Gray, Henry W., (Wagoner), b. Wilbraham; 21, S.; hack 
driver, Wilbraham; May 31, '61; M. 0. July 1, '64; in 
1875, Wilbraham. 

Gray, Lyman E., b. Amherst; 23, S.; carpenter, Wilbraham; 
May 31, '61; dis. Aug. 3, '63, disa. 



436 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

Green, George S.,( Corp.), b. Barre; 28, M.; bridge maker, 
Springfield; May 31, '61; prom. Sergt. and First Sergt.; 
re. Dec. 21, '63; dis. Feb. 8, '64, for com. Second Lieut., 
57th Mass.; wd. right arm, Cold Harbor, '64; July, '64, 
detailed to serve on Staff of General H. S. Briggs; dis. 
Oct. 5, '64, disa.; bvt. Major, March 13, '65; during the 
subsequent five years, served the Government in the way 
of laying out the National Cemeteries at Culpeper and 
Fredericksburg, also assisting in the transfer of Union 
dead from places of original burial to these most attrac- 
tive enclosures; before the war, had been six years a 
member of the City Guard; for some time after leaving 
government employ was agent for a windmill company, 
Batavia, 111.; in 1907, resided in Chicago, 111. 

Grout, Austin O., b. Amherst; 20, S.; mechanic, Chicopee; 
May 31, '61; M. O. July 1, '64; 1908, Chicopee Falls. 

Hale, George D. Y., (Sergt.), b. Palmer; 23, S.; clerk, Spring- 
field; May 31, '61; dis. March 17, '63, disa.; was an old 
member of the Guard; in 1869, inspector, Howe Sewing 
Machine Co., Bridgeport, Conn.; dead. 

Hawes, Frank B., b. Lowell; 24, S.; clerk, Springfield; May 
31, '61; wd. May 31, '62, Fair Oaks; M. O. July 1, '64; 
1909, City Hall, Lowell. 

Hendrick, Joel H., b. West Suffield, Conn. ; 24, S. ; mechanic, 
Chicopee; June 14, '61; wd. head by rifle ball, June 25, 
'62, Oak Grove; M. O. July 1, '64; in 1884 and 1885 
member Common Council, 1886 Alderman, Springfield; 
1897 to 1906 inclusive, County Commissioner, Hampden 
Co.; Commander Post 16,G. A.R. 1886; in 1908, Spring- 
field; "James" on State House rolls. 

Hendrick, Oren A., b. Agawam; 23, S.; gold chain maker, 
Longmeadow; May 31, '61; dis. Oct. '63, for com. 
General E. A. Wild's Colored Brigade; a former member 
of the City Guard; dead. 

Hillman, Erastus, b. East Brookfield; 20, S.; lawyer, Spring- 
field; May 31, '61; dis. Oct. 28, '62, disa. 

Hogan, Edwin T., b. Pittsfield; 27, M.; clerk, Chicopee; 
May 31, '61; desert. March 26, '62; Newell makes name 
"Edward J." 

Horr, Charles H., b. Pelham; 26, S.; farmer, Springfield; 
May 31, '61; dis. Oct. 26, '61, disa. 

Hunt, Henry M., b. Springfield; 22, S.; engraver, Springfield; 



CoMPAXY F 437 

May 31, '61; d. Jan. 6, '62, Washington, D. C; he was 

the first Springfield soldier to die in the service ; his disease 

being small pox, his body could not be sent home for 

burial. 
Hunt, Jared C, (R). b. Northampton; 28, M.; marble agent, 

Springfield; Aug. 22, '62; re. Dec. 21, '63, cr. Agawam; 

wd. May 12, '64, Spottsylvania ; d. of wds., June 13, '64, 

Washington, D. C. 
Hunt, Josiah C, (Mus.), b. Longmeadow; 23, S.; drummer, 

Longmeadow; May 31, '61; dis. Sept. 19, '62, disa.; 

later in Co. A., 3d Mass. Cav. 
Huntington, Andrew T., b. Savannah, Ga. ; 20, S. ; bookkeeper 

Springfield; prom. Commissary Sergt.; re. Dec. 21, '63 

trans, as Hospital Steward, U. S. Army, April IS, '64 

dis. July, '65; one year clerk, U. S. Treasury Department. 

from Aug. '66 to Sept. 17, '73 in banking house of Jay 

Cook & Co.; Aug. 1, '78, appointed clerk, Treasury 

Department and has served continuously to date, Jan. 

14, 1908; Chief of the division of Loans and Currency 

since Feb., 1889. 
Jackson, Stephen K., b. Hermon, N. Y.; 22, S.; carpenter, 

Chicopee; May 31, '61; trans. V. R. C, Feb. 15, '64; 

dis. June 24, '64, ex. of s. 
Jones, Henry M., b. Spencer; 22, S.; hairdresser, Spencer; 

May 31, '61; wd. leg, Salem Heights; M. O. July 1, '64; 

in 1872 in boot shop, Honesdale, Pa.; d. Jan. 14, 1887. 

Justin, George D., b. South Deerfield; 24, S.; clerk, Chicopee; 
May 31, '61; wd. July 1, '62, Malvern Hill and capt.; 
after brief stay in Richmond, was paroled and taken to 
David's Island, N. Y. Harbor, where he d. of wds., 
Aug. 22, '62. 

Kendall, Frank H., b. West Cambridge; 35, — ; engineer, 
Boston; Sept. 12, '61; desert. May 1, '63; Newell says 
"Frank L." 

Kenney, Morgan W., b. Ireland; carpenter, Springfield; May 
31, '61; desert. April 3, '63, while on ten days' furlough. 

Keyes, WiUiam D., b. Springfield; 24, S.; carpenter, Spring- 
field; May 31, '61; injured while working on fortifica- 
tions at Harrison's Landing, '62; was sent to the hosp. 
and did not return until March 27, '63; wd. two fingers, 
Spottsylvania; through hospitals in Fredericksburg, 



438 



The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 




J. W. CLARK, 
S. C. DAMON, 



Com. Serg't. A. T. HUNTINGTON, 
CORP. A. D. SHAW. 



Washington and Philadelphia, he reached Springfield, 
June 21, '64, where he was M. O. July 1, '64; in 1875, 
carpenter and joiner, Springfield; d. Sept. 28, 1906. 

Knapp, Horace H., b. Lowell; 19, S.; clerk, Chicopee; May- 
Si, '61; in winter of '62, detailed to serve in the Balloon 
Corps, remaining until the beginning of the Gettysburg 
campaign; M. O. July 1, '64; in 1875, clerk in Lowell 
bleachery, Lowell; d. 1908, Lowell. 

Knight, John L., b. Leicester; 19, S.; book binder, Spring- 
field; May 31, '61; wd. hand. Fair Oaks; re. Dec. 21, '63; 
Corp., April, '64; trans. June 19, '64, 37th Mass.; as 
mounted Orderly on Staff of General Oliver Edwards, 
severly wd. at Opequon, Sept. 19, '64, and horse was shot 
under him; trans. June 21, '65, 20th Mass.; M. O. as 
Sergt., July 16, '65; book binder, Springfield, many years; 
rejoined City Guard and filled all grades to Captaincy, 
holding that position ten years; in E. K. Wilcox Post, 
G. A. R. held every office to the command; twice was 



CoMPANTi- F 439 

sent to National Encampments of the Grand Army and 
was aide on Staff of Commander-in-Chief Burdette; in 
1883 and 1884 served in the Common Council; in 1885 
was an Alderman; in 1886 and 1887 was Representative 
in the Legislature; in 1888 was appointed inspector of 
factories and public buildings, a position held till his 
death, Feb., 1898. 

Lathrop, Edwin W., b. East Longmeadow; 21, S.; clerk, 
Longmeadow; May 31, '61; dis. Oct. 27, '62, disa.; in 
1872, grocer, Springfield; d. April, 1907. 

Loomis, Victor O., b. New York City; 23, S.; printer, Spring- 
field; May 31, '61; desert, as Corp., Sept. 12, '62. 

McAlHster, Daniel, b. Scotland; 24, M.; soldier, Chicopee; 
May 31, '61; M. O. July 1, '64; Newell says age 37, and 
name "Duncan." 

M^gee, Nelson, (R), b. Canada; 18, S.; farmer, Pittsfield; 
March 5, '62; dis. Sept. 26, '62, disa.; later, Co. I, 
4th Mass. Cav. 

Magrath, Lawrence, b. Boston; 21, S.; saddler, Chicopee; 
May 31, '61; wd. chest, Fair Oaks; d. Aug. 8, '62, of 
wds. received at Malvern Hill. 

Matthews, WilHam, b. New Braintree; 21, — ; clerk, Spring- 
field; May 31, '61; dis. Oct. 7, '61, disa.; in 1869, clerk. 
Grand Union Hotel, Saratoga Springs, N. Y.; Newell 
says "Wm. H." 

Mead, George B., b. Malone, N. Y.; 20, S.; printer, Chicopee; 
May 31, '61; capt. Malvern Hill, confined three weeks 
in Richmond, then on Belle Island, till Aug. 6, '62; 
M. O. July 1, '64; en. Dec. 31, '64, Co. F, 3d Mass. Cav.; 
Sergt., March 1, '65; prom. Second Lieut., Oct. 5, '65; 
dis. same date, ex. of s. ; for several years, Chief of police, 
Chicopee; in 1875, detective in employ of B. & A. R. R., 
Springfield; dead. 

Moffatt, Michael H., b. Ireland; 20, S.; harness maker, Chico- 
pee; May 31, '61; d. May 8, '64, of wds. received at 
Chancellors ville . 

Moran, Patrick, (R), b. Ireland; 28, S.; carpenter. New York 
City; Jan. 8, '64, cr. West Springfield; trans. U. S. 
Navy, April 27, '64. 

Morse, James G., b. Suffield, Conn.; 22, S.; tailor, Spring- 
field; May 31, '61; wd. hand. Fair Oaks; dis. Oct. 15, 
'62, disa.; dead. 



440 The Tenth IVIassachusetts Infantry 

Mullen, Patrick, (R), b. Ireland; 21, S.; laborer, Greenfield; 
March 5, '62; re. Dec. 21, '63; trans. June 19, '64, 37th 
Mass.; trans. June 21, '65, 20th Mass.; M. O. July 16, '65. 

Newell, William S., b. Pelham; 21, S.; clerk, Springfield; 
May 31, '61; M. O. July 1, '64. 

Noble, Wilbur W., b. Springfield; 22, S.; mechanic, Spring- 
field; May 31, '61; M. O. July 1, '64. 

Phelps, Frank H., b. Springfield; 22, S.; clerk, Springfield; 
May 31, '61; deserted June 13, '63; Newell says, "At 
Fairfax Station, Va., he trans, himself, without the 
usual forms, to the U. S. Navy and served until the end 
of the war;" in 1875, employed by the Adams Express, 
Springfield; d. 1899. 

Pierce, Edwin C, (Corp.), b. Nashua, N. H.; 23, S.; orna- 
mental painter, Springfield; May 31, '61; dis. Sept. 5, 
'61, for com. Second Lieut., 3d Maine Inftry.; Dec. 31, 
'61 detailed Signal Corps and served with General N. P. 
Banks in the Shenandoah Valley; prom. First Lieut., 
May 3, '62; Captain, Dec. 22, '62; commanded Signal 
Detachment, Left Grand Division, and at Sixth Corps, 
headquarters until June, '64; M. O. June 28, '64; in 
1875, decorative painter, Springfield; d. Roxbury, about 
1902. 

Porter, Alden, b. Belchertown; 20, S.; clerk, Chicopee; 
May 31, '61; d. Oct. 7, '61, Washington, D. C. 

Presbv, Charles H., b. Lanesboro; 24, S.; painter, Chicopee; 
dis. Aug. 12, '62, disa.; in 1873, 77 Union Street, Boston; 
Newell says "Presbrey." 

Preston, Robert, b. Dorchester; 21, S.; clerk, Dorchester; 
May 31, '61; dis. Sept. 17, '62, disa.; came back to the 
Regiment in May, '64; vide Unassigned Recruits; dead. 

Putnam, Silas L., b. Leicester; 24, S.; salesman, Springfield; 
May 31, '61; k. May 3, '62, Salem Heights. 

Rafter, Richard, (R), b. Northboro; 21, S.; manufacturer, 
Hinsdale; Feb. 28, '62; dis. April 30, '62, disa.; Newell 
sa^'s " Raftis." 

Regan, Wilham O., b. Fairfield, Vt.; 28, M.; weaver, Chico- 
pee; May 31, '61; M. O. July 1, '64; in 1870, overseer, 
weaving room, cotton mill; since 1908, 329 Walnut 
Street, Springfield. 

Remington, Benjamin F., (R), b. Parma, Ohio; 22, S.; far- 



COMPANT F 441 

mer, Great Barrington; Jan. 31, '62; re. Dec. 21, '63, 
cr. Egremont; trans. June 19, '64, 37th Mass.; trans. 
June 21, '65, 20th Mass.; M. O. July 16, '65; in 1875, 
Springfield. 

Robbins, Charles H., (R), b. Deerfield; 22, — ; fanner, 
Springfield; Sept. 12, '61; ab. sick at M. O. July 1, '64. 

Robertson, Lucien F., 23, S.; bookkeeper, Chicopee; May 
31, '61; d. of sunstroke, July 10, '62, Harrison's Landing. 

Rogers, Henry H., b. Buxton, Me.; 22, S.; shoemaker, 
Chicopee; May 31, '61; wd. abdomen. Fair Oaks; desert. 
Dec. 13, '62, Fredericksburg. 

Ross, Levi, b. Schenectady, N. Y.; 28, M.; machinist, Spring- 
field; May 31, '61; prom. First Lieut., Co. E. 

Roy, Augustus, b. Canada; 19, S.; upholsterer, Chicopee; 

-^ .May 31, '61; wd. shoulder. May 31, '62, Fair Oaks; in 

hospital above eight months, dis. March 4, '63, disa.; in 

1875, carriage painter, Springfield; "Ray" on State 

House rolls; d. Jan. 29, 1908. 

Sackett, Alonzo F., b. Boston; 24, S.; actor, Springfield; 
May 31, '61; trans. Dec. 5, '63, 1st Mass. Battery; re. 
Dec. 23, '63; after M. O. of the Battery, trans. Battery 
M, 5th U. S. Artillery; trans. March 12, '65, 9th Mass. 
Battery; dis. June 6, '65, ex. of s.; in 1875, barber. 
South Framingham; dead. 

Sawin, Wm. J., (R), b. Hancock, N .H.; 27, M.; physician, 
Chicopee; June 18, '61; dis. Sept. 6, '61 to become 
Hosp. Steward, 3d Vt. Vols.; served as Contract Surgeon 
in 3d, 4th and 5th Vt. Regiments, from Oct. 1, '61 to 
June 21, '62; Asst. Surgeon, 2d Vt., June 23, '62; Sur- 
geon, Dec. 18, '62; Surgeon-in-Chief, Brigade, Dec. 26, 
'62; M. O. with Regiment, June 29, '64; in 1875, physi- 
cian and surgeon, Chicopee; d. Springfield. 

Shaw, Alvin D., b. Lenox; 21, S.; gunsmith, Springfield; 
May 31, '61; re. Dec. 21, '63; trans. June 19, '64, 37th 
Mass.; trans. June 21, '65, 20th Mass.; M. O. July 16, '65; 
for twenty years connected with Jeffrey Mfg. Co., Colum- 
bus, Ohio- two years in city government. 

Shumwav, Rufus K., b. Ware; 27, M.; painter, Belcher- 
town; May 31, '61; M. 0. July 1, '64; d. 1904. 

Simons, Wolfe, (R), b. Poland; 22, — ; merchant, Pittsfield; 
Feb. 21, '62; dis. March 17, '63, disa.; Newell has 
"Simons Wolfe." 



442 



The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 




L. T. AVERILL, 



N. F. WHEELER. 



Skinner, John F., b. South Berne, N. Y.; 22, S.; farmer, 

Springfield; May 23, '61; dis. Dec. 7, '62, disa. 
Snow, Henry B., b. Worcester; 20, S.; miller, Spencer; May 

31, '61; dis. April 6, '63, disa. 
Stowe, James M., b. Sharon, N. H. ; 20, S. ; painter, Chicopee; 

Corp., Aug., '62; Sergt., Jan. 1, '63; First Sergt., Feb. 

8, '64; M. O. July 1, '64. 

Strickland, George G., b. Stockbridge; 20, S.; painter, Spring- 
field; May 31, '61; wd. Malvern Hill and capt., carried 
to Richmond and kept in Libby Prison till July 18, '62 
sent North, reaching Belle vue Hosp., New York. July 
23, '62; d. Aug. 8, '62; funeral from Ohvet Church 
Springfield, Aug. 10, '62, Union Guard acting as escort 

Titcomb, Wm. P., b. Newburyport; 21, S.; manufacturer 
Springfield; May 31, '61; trans, as Hosp. Steward, U. S 
Army, Jan. 29, '63; Chief Clerk, office U. S. Fish Com- 
mission, Washington, D. C, 1909. 

Tourtelotte, James E., b. Medina, Ohio; 19, S.; clerk, Spring- 
field; May 31, '61; dis. Nov. 3, '62, disa.; 1909, 333 Han- 
cock St., Brooklyn, N. Y. 

Ufford, Charles D., b. Stamford, Conn.; 25, S.; machinist, 
Holyoke; May 31, '61; re. Dec. 21, '63; trans. June 19, 



Company F 443 

'64, 37th Mass.; trans. June 21, '65, 20th Mass.; M. O. 
July 16, '65; in 1875, employ N. Y., N. H. & Springfield 
R. R. ; Messenger at State House, Boston, 1885-98; 
has assisted in taking State and School Census; has been 
Asst. Assessor; in 1908, clerk in coal office, Springfield. 

Watson, Thomas J., b. Westfield; 32, M.; armorer, Long- 
meadow; May 31, '61; dis. Oct. 28, '62, disa. ; later 
policeman, Westfield. 

Webber, Elliot D., (R), b. Brimfield; 25, — ; , Spring- 
field, June 17, '61; dis. Aug. 12, '61, disa.; later, as 
George Webster, served a three 3^ear enlistment, 25th 
Mass.; in 1869, barber, Spencer; dead. 

Wheeler, Norman F., b. Chesterfield, N. H.; 20, S.; tailor, 
Springfield; May 31, '61; dis. Oct. 26, '61, disa.; in 1909, 
commercial traveller, Springfield, (49 Buckingham St.). 

Whitney, George A., b. Greenfield; 24, M.; engraver, Chico- 
pee; May 31, '61; dis. Jan 28, '62, disa.; Oct. 4, '62, 
Adjutant, 142d N. Y.; prom. Captain, Feb. 25, '63; res. 
May 20, '63; d. 1872, Rutland, Vt.; an old member 
of the City Guard. 

Wickersham, Benjamin F., (R), b. Philadelphia, Pa.; 22, S.; 
armorer, Springfield; Aug. 23, '62; wd. hip. Wilderness; 
M. O. July 1, '64. 

Wilson, Edwin C, b. Southampton; 26, S.; carriage maker, 
Springfield; May 31, '61; Corp., Jan. 1, '63; M. 0. 
July 1, '64; in 1875, confectioner, Springfield; an old 
member of the Guard; dead. 

Winter, Wm. F., b. Germany; 22, S.; painter, Longmeadow; 
May 31, '61; at Fair Oaks, a Rebel bullet struck his 
musket, fair in the muzzle, splitting the barrel five 
inches; Corp., Aug. 18, '62; Sergt., March 8, '64; never 
in hosp., had no furlough, shirked no duty during the 
entire enhstment; M. O. July 1, '64; in 1875, Long- 
meadow; d. 1899; Newell gives "Wm. F. C." 

Wolfe, Simons, vide Simons. 

Wright, George E., b. Fitchburg; 23, S.; painter, Spring- 
field; May 31, '61; dis. Nov. 10, '62, disa.; en. 3d R. L 
Cav., Jan. 1, '64; dis. Nov. 29, '65, New Orleans, La.; 
in 1872, Shreveport, La.; in 1907, Nucla, Col. 

Wyatt, David H., (R), b. Greenwich; 21, S.; clerk, Spring- 
field; Aug. 20, '62; M. O. July 1, '64. 



444 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

COMPANY G, GREENFIELD GUARDS 

This was another mihtia company, organized July 21, 1853, 
always held in high esteem and having for its first commander, 
Charles H. Munn, Esq., of Greenfield. From the start it had 
included some of the best of the young men of Franklin's 
shire-town. Excelling in drill, its patriotism was unques- 
tioned, its hospitality and liberality, all that such circum- 
stances might inspire. The year 1861, opening with indica- 
tions of trouble ahead, found the Company under the lead of 
Captain Edwin E. Day, and as intense in its devotion as any 
body of men could be. The Captain was conspicuous for his 
leadership, and his Yankee versatility. As early as February 
■6th, in response to Governor Andrew's general order No. 4, 
Company G had voted unanimously to hold itself in readiness 
to march at a moment's warning. 

The news of the assault on Sumter stirred Franklin county 
no less than it did all other parts of Massachusetts and had 
talk been able to punish those audacious rebels of South 
Carolina, their penalty would have been paid at once. The 
Starry Banner floated from the Company's armory, and when 
Colonel Anderson, a few days before, had left Moultrie for the 
stronger Fort Sumter, Captain Day used his field piece in 
firing a national salute of thirty-three guns in honor of the 
hero. When the firing began on Fort Sumter, Captain Day 
commenced to recruit his Company to a war standard. April 
20th, or six days after the flag went down in Charleston 
Harbor, the citizens of Greenfield to the number of twelve 
hundred repaired to Washington Hall, their principal assembly 
room, and with feelings at fever heat discussed the situation. 
W. A. Walker called the meeting to order; W. Griswold was 
temporary Chairman, making a ringing speech as he took 
the chair. A National flag was brought in by G. W. Mark and 
suspended back of the stage and soon after, to the tune of 
Yankee Doodle, Captain Day led in his Company of youthful 
soldiers, who were received with rousing cheers. 

The Hon. George Grennell, long famous in local politics, 
was made permanent Chairman, and he, too, in taking his 
■position eloquently voiced the popular sentiment. Others 
followed in similar strain and H. B. Clapp pledged the Guards 
all the money necessary to fit them out at once, agreemg to 
wait for his recompense till the town should vote it. Resolu- 
tions were reported and voted, and after singing America and 
the Star Spangled Banner, at ten o'clock, the meeting broke 



Company G 445 

up, the Union sentiment of Greenfield being at ignition pitch. 
The ladies of the town were soon busily engaged in sewing 
for the soldiers, an occupation that continued to the end of 
the struggle. Monday, April 29th, came another gathering, 
this time a town meeting called to appoint and quahfy a 
committee to disburse such sums of money as to them should 
appear necessary to properly equip the Guards. 

By early May, the Company had so far advanced in drill 
and general appearance that on the 16th, a trial march was 
made to the neighboring town of Deerfield and back. On 
the 21st, grown stronger and more venturesome, a longer spin 
was undertaken, this time to Bernardston where a collation 
was eaten at Fox's hotel with the rehsh that comes of work. 
After exhibiting their paces through the streets of the quiet 
village, they started back, calHng on their way at the home 
of Ex-Lieut. Gov. H. W. Cushman, who addressed them in a 
fitting manner. Before eight o'clock, they \yere in Greenfield, 
having marched sixteen miles since two in the afternoon. 
Saturday, the 25th, Captain Day telegraphed Gov. Andrew 
that Company G was ready and awaiting orders to depart. 
Thursday, May 30th, was a lively day in the annals of the 
Company, since this was the time when the boys started for 
Sunderland by way of the Deerfields. At Deerfield proper, 
they were bountifully refreshed in the Pocumtuc House, the 
people of the village being the most liberal of providers. 
Again they ate when they reached South Deerfield, in the 
Bloody Brook House, though the jolly boys in uniform little 
realized the bloody errand on which they were so soon to 
start. At Sunderland Bridge, the town committee was met 
and the Company was escorted into the town with the firing 
of cannon and the shouts of the people. 

In front of the town hall, seemingly all of the town's people 
were gathered, and the Guards were welcomed to the hospi- 
talities of the town in a deUghtful manner by Dr. Trow. Then 
followed the third meal since leaving Greenfield, and after 
that came the drill in which the soldiers made a fine appear- 
ance. Supper came at last, making the fifth repast for the 
Company for the day, and the time was soon to come when 
these patriotic young men would be very grateful if only a 
few mouthfuls of this superfluous food could be had. This 
was their feast, later came the long and dreary fast. The 
homes of the village were thrown open and the Guards were 
most comfortably quartered therein for the night. At eight 
o'clock, Fridav, after more eating, drilling and speaking, the 



446 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

boys marched away, this time for the town of Montague, 
some of whose representatives were in the Company ranks. 
Calls were made at the homes of David Hubbard and Dwight 
Whittemore where refreshments were served and at noon 
Montague was reached, where a dinner was awaiting them at 
the hotel, a token of the generosity of the citizens. 

Then came speeches by T. M. Dewey, Esq., Rev. Mr. 
Moody and others with an effective response by Captain Day. 
After a drill, the Guards set forth for Greenfield, reaching 
home about six p. m., but before this they had stopped at 
the residence of J. H. Hollister and appeased any possible 
hunger that might have developed since their latest feat of 
eating. Only sunshine had been encountered, and all re- 
turned in the finest of spirits, thinking soldiering the most 
delightful occupation in the world; later came seamy sides 
of the fabric and a different tale would be told. 

Friday, July 14th, the county seat saw the last of its 
favorites, at least as a company, for then, with the Company 
from Shelburne Falls, the Greenfield Guards at ten a. m., in 
the presence of fully three thousand citizens, took the train 
for Springfield. A little before, drawn up in front of the 
Mansion House, both companies were addressed by the Rev. 
Dr. Chandler in a most effective manner, closing with an 
impressive prayer, and after him, came the Rev. Mr. Headly 
in an equally appropriate manner. Each soldier had been 
provided with a well-filled pin-cushion by the young ladies 
of Miss Russell's school, and Wm. B. Washburn, subsequent 
Representative in Congress, Governor and U. S. Senator, 
gave each man a pocket Bible. The town had uniformed the 
Company, besides presenting each soldier wdth a pair of flannel 
drawers and shirts. To Lieut. L. M. Remington and First 
Sergt. Pierce, admiring friends presented handsome revolvers, 
while to Captain Day, D. X. Carpenter, late Postmaster of 
Greenfield, gave a purse of a hundred dollars and Charles 
Allen donated fifty dollars to be expended for the good of the 
Company. The Captain also received an elegant revolver 
from W. T. Davis, Esq., of Greenfield. Then came the 
last scene of all in this drama of life and war, the parting. 
Fond parents took for the last time, in some cases, the hands 
of loved sons, wives clung to the necks of departing husbands, 
sweethearts through tearful eyes saw the dear ones go, as the 
train swept out of sight, on its way to Springfield; and thus 
both North and South put on the habiliments of war and 
entered upon four long years of fighting and heart breaking. 



CoMPAm- G 447 

(For full explanation of abbreviations, see page 332.) 
COMMISSIONED OFFICERS 

CAPTAINS 

Edwin E. Day, b. Gill; 35, M.; stone mason, Greenfield; 
June 21, '61; k. May 31, '62, Fair Oaks; his body was 
bur. on the field, but three and a half years afterwards, 
it was brought to Greenfield and reburied in Green River 
cemetery; his funeral was observed in the Unitarian 
church of Bernardston, June 15, '62, sermon by the Rev. 
H. B. Butler,singing,ledby Wendell T.Davis of Greenfield, 
included an original poem composed for the occasion by 
a fellow member of the Captain in a local society; Capt. 
Day had belonged to the Greenfield Guards for several 
years, and from Aug. 5, '59, had been in command. 

George Pierce, Jr., June 1, '62; wd. July 1, '62, Malvern Mill, 
and at Spottsylvania, May 18, '64; trans. June 20, '64, 
to 37th Mass.; was at Fort Stevens, D. C, July, '64, 
when Earlv's raid was made; wd. Sept. 19, '64, Winches- 
ter; dis. Nov. 13, '64; since the war has made Greenfield 
his home. 

Edwin L. Knight, while 2nd Lieut. (G,) was placed in com- 
mand of the Company, October 1, '62, holding this posi- 
tion three months. 

FIRST LIEUTENANTS 

George Pierce, Jr., b. Northampton; 31, M.; tin-plater, 
Greenfield; June 21, '61; prom. Captain; a former 
member of the Guards, he was First Lieut, when the 
call came. 

Lorenzo M. Remington; June 1, '62; dis. Nov. 25, '62; in 
1875, teamster, Springfield; dead. 

Nelson H. Gardner, (A); Sept. 26, '62; M. 0. July 1, '64; 
bvt. Capt., Mar. 13, '65; in 1875, Westfield. 

SECOND LIEUTENANTS 

Lorenzo M. Remington, b. Aurora, N. Y.; 27, M.; mechanic, 
Greenfield; June 21, '63; was a former member of the 
Guards; prom. First Lieut. 



448 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

Edwin C. Moore, from Sergt., June 1, '62; dismissed Nov. 

25, '62; d. New Haven, Conn. 
Edwin L. Knight, (from 1st Serg't., E,) July 21, '62, acting' 

first in Co. E; assigned to Co. G. Nov. 1, '62; prom. 

Captain, (E.) 

George W. Potter; from Sergt., Nov. 26, '62; after Fair Oaks, 
in hosp., inflammation, left eye; rejoined Reg't. at Harri- 
son's Landing; not absent again during service; M. O. 
July 1, '64; bvt. First Lieut, and Capt., Mar. 13, '65; 
in 1869, machinist, Greenfield; d. Dec. 12, 1896. 

NOX-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS AND PRIVATES 

Adams, William H., b. Conway; 21, S.; mechanic, Conway; 
June 21, '61; wd. Fair Oaks; detailed, Nov. '62, as guard, 
3rd Div., 6th Corps, supply train; Jan., '63, as wagon- 
master, was put in charge of train, continuing thus until 
consolidation of Army at Brandy Station; was then 
assigned to Artillery Brigade, ambulance corps, 6th 
Corps, as Q. M. Sergt., remaining until ordered to join 
Regiment for journey home; M. O. July 1, '64; in 1908, 
commercial traveller, Worcester; (36 June St). 

Alexander, Louis P., b. Hadley; 24, M.; laborer, Shelburne; 
June 14, '61; M. O. Julv 1, '64; another record savs 
"May 2, '65;" in 1909, Boston Road, Springfield. 

Amidon, Solomon H., b. Rowe; 20, S.; mechanic, Greenfield; 
June 21, '61; M. O. July 1, '64; another record says, 
"absent under arrest, Julv 1, '64;" in 1909, resides in 
Millers Falls. 

Armstrong, Dwight E., b. Wendell; 20, S.; laborer, Green- 
field; April 19, '61; k. as Corp., May 3, '63, Salem 
Heights. 

Arnold, William, b. Worcester; 20, S.; laborer, Greenfield; 
May 18, '61; dis. Oct. 28, '62, disa. 

Atherton, Ralph L., (Corp.), 19, S.; laborer. Gill; June 14, 
'61; wd. leg and arm. Fair Oaks; dis. July 8, '62, disa.; 
in 1873, said to reside in Gill; in 1909, Greenfield. 

Atherton, Wm. B., b. Gill; 21, S.; June 14, '61; wd. thigh 
and left arm, Fair Oaks; dis. Sept. 4, '62, disa.; Monthly 
Report, No. 14, says, "dis. as Corp., Jan. 6, '63, at Fal- 
mouth, disa.;" in 1908, farmer. Gill. 

Atwood. Philip, (R) ; 28, M.; teamster, Cambridge; Aug. 14, 



Cf)MPANY G 



449 




CORP. C. M. WHITMORE, 
C. E. GREEN, 



A. L. WILLIAMS, 
A. B. PARKER, 



J. F. WEBSTER, 
CAPT. GEO. PIERCE. 



'62; trans. Co. F, 9th Reg't., V. R. C; dis. April 8, '63. 

Martindale Barracks, D. C. 
Baltz, John H., (R), b. New York City; 23, — ; farmer, 

Springfield, cr. Wilbraham; Nov. 13, '63; k. June 6, '64, 

Cold Harbor. 
Bennett, George S., b. Guilford, Vt. ; 21, S.; laborer, Greenfield; 

May 18, '61; wd. arm, Fair Oaks; trans. V. R. C, Nov. 

15, '63; M. O. June 20, '64, as of 48th Co., 2nd Batt. 
Blodgett, Charles G., b. South Deerfield; 17, S.; laborer, 

Deerfield; June 1, '61; wd. leg, Salem Heights, May 3, 

'63; Corp. Feb. 8, '64; wd. and captured. May 19, '64; 

d. as prisoner, Charleston, S. C, Sept. 28, '64. 
Bodman, Artemas, b. Williamsburg; 22, S.; laborer, Erving; 

June 21, '61; dis. Feb. 23, '63, disa.; in 1869, farmer, 

Erving; d. March 8, 1909. 
Bosquet, Philieus, b. Canada; 19, S.; mechanic, Becket; 

June 21, '61; M. O. July 1, '64; in 1869, currier, Becket. 
Briggs, Andrew J., b. Northfield; 21, S.; mechanic, Erving; 



450 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

May, '61; k. May 31, '62, Fair Oaks; funeral, Erving 
Cong. Church, June 15, Rev. George A. Green preaching. 

Brooks, Herbert F., b. Wendell; 19, S.; mechanic, Wendell; 
June 21, '61; dis. Sept. 11, '62, disa.; in 1909, salesman, 
Brattleboro, Vt. 

Burnham, David R., (R), b. Montague; 24, M.; teamster, 
Montague; Aug. 14, '62; M. 0. July 1, '64; in 1869, 
bridge builder, Montague City. 

Burnham, Elihu D., b. Montague; 23, S.; mechanic, Monta- 
gue; June 21, '61; wagon master, '62; dis. Feb. 1, '63, 
disa.; in 1869, produce broker, Plainfield, N. H. 

Burnham, Thomas W., b. Deerfield; 23, S.; laborer, Monta- 
gue; June 21, '61; Corp., June 20, '64; M. O. July 1, '64; 
in 1873, mechanic, Montague City. 

Burns, James, b. Worcester; 22, S.; laborer, Becket; May 
18, '61; M. O. as Corp. July 1, '64; rep. d. 1898. 

Burns, Robert, b. Worcester; 24, S.; teamster, Middlefield; 
May 18, '61; d. of wds.. May 31, '62, Fair Oaks. 

Cannon, Henry B., b. Lee; 27, M.; farmer, Blandford; June 
1, '61; dis. April 3, '62, disa.; in 1873, said to reside in 
Spencer. Newell says "Henry N." 

Cheney, George F., b. Holden; 21, S.; mechanic, Spencer; 
June 1, '61; dis. Oct. 30, '62, disa.; later in V. R. C. 

Cheeseman, Uriah H., b. Middlefield; 36, M.; mechanic, 
Middlefield; April 26, '61; M. O. July 1, '61; in 1873, 
farmer, Easthampton. 

Churchill, Wm. M., b. Springfield; IS. S.; mechanic. Middle- 
field; June 1, '61; dis. Oct. 29, '62, disa; dead. 

Clapp, Christopher A., (Corp.), b. Montague: 19, S.; mechanic, 
Montague; May 18, '61; Sergt. soon after Malvern Hill, 
and was sent on recruiting service with Capt. Fred. 
Barton; dis. Feb. 12, '63, disa.; was twenty years in 
hotel business, Syracuse, N, Y.; in 1908, retired, Monta- 
gue. 

Cook, Benjamin O., b. Pelham; 26, M.; farmer, Amherst; 
June 1, '61; dis. Feb. 18, '62, disa. 

Coolidge, Edward, b. Erving; 20, S.; mechanic, Erving; 
June 21, '61; wd. shoulder. May 31, '62, Fair Oaks; 
M. O. July 1, '64; in 1869, mechanic, Erving; d. Erving. 

Dewey, Edward S., b. Montague; 18, S.; artist, Montague; 



Company G 451 

June 21, '61; dis. as Sergt., Oct. 13, '63, for com. as 
Second Lieut., 57th Mass.; First Lieut., Mar. 2, '64; 
prom. Capt., but was compelled to leave the service on 
account of sun-stroke ; in 1909, Custom House, Boston. 

Dewey, Franklin W., (Corp.), b. Chester; 24, M.; mechanic, 
Chester; May 18, '61; dis. Feb., '62, disa., (Newell says 
Jan. 17); in 1869, mechanic, Chester. 

Dewey, Henry, (R), b. Orford, N. H.; 40, S.; farmer, Monta- 
gue; Aug. 14, '62; wd. heel, Mav 3, '63, Salem Heights; 
M. 0. July 1, '64. 

Dickinson, Henry, b. Amherst; 23, S.; farmer, Montague; 
May 18, '61; M. O. July 1, '64; later, served one year 
in 1st Batt., Mass. Frontier Cav., Co. E.; in 1873, farmer, 
Leverett. 

Dodge, Henderson N., b. Deerfield; 24, S.; farmer, Deer- 
field; May 18, '61; M. O. as Corp., July 1, '64. Newell 
says, "d. at Fredericskburg, from wds, rec'd. in Wilder- 
ness." 

Dodge, Philip M., (R), b. ; 21, M.; laborer, Leverett; 

Oct. 14, '62; re. Dec. 21, '63; trans. June 20, '64, 37th 
Mass.; trans. June 21, '65, 20th Mass.; M. 0. July 16, '65; 
1909, Dwight. 

Field, Albert A., b. Erving; 21, S.; mechanic, Erving; May 
18, '61; Corp., June 20, '64; missed no battles, was not 
sick nor wounded in service; M. O. July 1, '64; later in 
Co. M, 3rd Mass. Cav.; M. 0. Sept. 28, '65; in 1909, 
painter, Turners Falls. 

French, Moses C, b. Orange; 19, S.; clerk, Montague; June 
21, '61; wd. May 31, '62, Fair Oaks, lower jaw shattered 
and flesh wd. in thigh; dis. on account of wds., Nov. 18, 
'62; in 1907, S. H.; d. Aug. 8, 1908. 

Gardner, Robert S., (Corp.), b. Troy, N. Y.; 19, S.; artist, 
Greenfield; May 18, '61; re. Dec. 21, '63, cr. Boston; 
dis. Mar. 31, '64, O. W. D. to receive appointment as 
clerk, Adj't. Gen.'s Office; in 1873, Clifton, N. J.; rep. 
d. 1899. 

Garland, George P., b. Beverly; 19, S.; farmer, Springfield; 
June 1, '61; wd. May 18, '64; ab. at M. O. July 1, '64; 
Newell says "d. of wds. soon after in Fredericksburg." 

Gilligan, Oscar J., (R), b. Wilbraham; 27, S.; engineer, 
Wilbraham; June 1, '61; dis. Mar. 20, '63, disa.; came 



452 The Tenth MASSAcnrsETTs Infantry 

back as recruit, Nov. 20, '63; wd. hand, May, '64; trans. 
June 20, '64, 37th Mass.; trans. June 21, '65, 20th Mass.; 
M. O. July 16, '65; in 1873, Springfield. 

Oilman, Frank, b. Haverhill; 19, S.; mechanic, Greenfield; 
May 18, '61; wd. head, Fair Oaks; dis. April 1, '63, 
disa.; in 1907, N. S. H., Togus, Me. 

Oowdy, Chauncey, b. East Oranville; 25, S.; cigar-maker, 
Oranville; June 21, '61; wd. thigh, June 3, '64, Cold 
Harbor; M. O. July 1, '64; d. Willimansett, 1872. 

Oreen, Charles E., b. Leominster; 19, S.; farmer, Wendell; 
June 21, '61 ; prostrated at or soon after battle of Gettys- 
burg, from whose effects he never recovered; trans. 
Mar. 15, '64, Co. K, 6th Reg't., V. R. C; M. O. June 21, 
'64; from 1869, onward, was several years in Vineland, 
N. J.; the last twenty years of his life were spent in 
Philadelphia, Pa., dying there Mar. 28, 1907; bur. 
Vineland, N. J. Newell has "Oreene." 

Hale, Oscar, b. Gill; 25, S.; farmer, Gill; May 15, '61; wd. 
and captured, May 18, '64; confined in Andersonville 
and Florence, S. C, until Feb. 26, '65, when he started 
home on exchange; is supposed to have d. on his way 
homeward, Mar. 2, '65, at Northeast Bridge, nine miles 
from Wilmington, N. C. 

Hall, James M., b. Taunton; 23, S.; mechanic, Greenfield; 
June 21, '61; wd. thigh. May 31, '62, Fair Oaks; Sergt., 
Dec, '62; M. O. July 1, '64; after the war, mechanic, 
Greenfield; d. Feb. 25, 1870. 

Hastings, John Nelson, b. Greenfield; 20, S.; farmer, Green- 
field; June 21, '61; dis. Dec. 24, '62, to en. 2nd U. S. 
Cav.; Corp., '63; M. O. June 21, '64, ex. of s.; in 1869, 
mechanic, Greenfield; rep. d. 1903. 

Hemenway, John, b. New Salem; 18, S.; butcher, Sunderland; 
May 18, '61; re. Dec. 21, '63; trans. June 20, '64, 37th 
Mass.; trans. June 21, '65, 20th Mass.; M. O. July 16, '65; 
in 1873, said to be in Sunderland; in 1907, N. S. H., 
Dayton, Ohio. 

Jewett, Alfred A., b. South Deerfield; 23, S.; butcher. Deer- 
field; May 18, '61; wd. foot, May 12, '64, Spottsylvania ; 
Corp., June 20, '64; M. O. July 1. '64; in 1873, said to 
be in South Deerfield; d. Mar., 1905. 

Kaulbach, George C, (Sergt.), b. Boston; 26, M.; mechanic, 
Montague; June 21, '61; was color-bearer through 



Company' G 



453 




D. M. WILCOX, 



H. F. BROOKS. 



Boston and Washington to Kalorama; was ordered from 
Brightwood to Pittsfield, on recruiting service, returning 
to Reg't. in April, '62; wd. shoulder. Fair Oaks; after 
hosp. and furlough, rejoined Regt. at Harrison's Land- 
ing; First Sergt., Sept. 23, '62; prom. Second Lieut., 
Co. B. 

Kellogg, Alvah S., b. New York City; 24, S.; tinner, Green- 
field; May 18, '61; M. O. July 1, '64. 

Keyes, Oliver M., b. South Hadley; 24, S.; mechanic. South 
Hadlev; June 1, '61; wd. hand, Mav 3, '63; trans. Nov. 
15, '63; V. R. C; in 1875, South Hadley. 

Lakeman, David, b. Ipswich; 43, S.; mechanic, Greenfield; 
May 1, '61; dis. Jan. 26, '62, disa; in 1869, farmer. Ash- 
field. 

Lawrence, Marcellus, b. St. Albans, Vt.; 26, S.; printer, 
Greenfield; May 18, '61; M. O. July 1, '64. 

Lewis, Miles, b. Orange; 20, S.; farmer, Montague; May 18, 
'61; dis. Oct. 16, '62, disa.; in 1873, Erving; dead. 

Longley, Zachariah, b. Chester; 43, M.; mechanic, Chester; 
dis. Aug. 8, '62, disa.; later, Co. G, 2nd Mass. Heavy 
Artillery. 

McDonald, James, b. Augusta, Me.; 27, — ; tinner, Medford; 
July 22, '61; re. Dec. 21, '63; trans. June 20, '64. 37th 
Mass.; trans. June 21, '65, 20th Mass.; M. O. Jtdy 16, '65. 



454 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

Marcott, Frank, (R), b. Canada; 25, — ; , Greenfield; 

Sept. 11, '61; trans. June 20, '64, 37th Mass.; dis. Sept. 

11, '64, ex. of s.; in 1869, farmer, Greenfield; d. Brattle- 

boro, Vt., 1899. 
Marvel, Wm. C, b. Shutesbury; 20, S.; farmer, Gill; Aug. 8, 

'61; wd. right foot, Salem Heights; M. O. July 1, '64; 

in 1869, Fitchburg. 
Mather, Pliny F., (Corp.), b. Greenfield; 20, S.; farmer, 

Greenfield; Mav 18, '61; wd. face, July 1, '62, Malvern 

Hill; dis. Nov. '11, '62. 
Maynard, George A., b. Keene, N. H.; 25, S.; mechanic, 

Orange; June 21, '61; dis. Dec. 26, '63, disa.; in 1869, 

clerk, Orange. 
Meacham, Wm. L., b. Becket; 21, S.; farmer, Chester; 

June 15, '61; Corp., Nov. 1, '63; Sergt., June 21, '64; 

M. O. June 21, '64; 1909 farmer. Feeding Hills, member 

of School Com., 1890 to 1893. 
Megrath, Christopher, b. Greenfield; 22, S.; mechanic, Green- 
field; June 21, '61; wd. neck. May 3, '63, Salem Heights; 

Corp., Jan. 1, '64; M. O. July 1^ '64; d. April 3, 1869, 

Greenfield. Newell says from the wd. of 1863. 
Messinger, Edwin, b. Becket; 18, S.; farmer, Chester; June 

1, '61; dis. Oct. 1, '61, disa. 
Miller, Robert; 27, M.; mechanic, Spencer; June 21, '61; 

M. O. July 1, '64. 
Moore, Edwin C, (Sergt.), b. Greenfield; 23, S.; truckman, 

Greenfield; June 21, '61; prom. Second Lieut. 
Morrison, Benjamin R., (R), b. Vernon, Vt.; Mar. 7, '62; 

dis. May 2, '62, disa. 
Nichols, Wilbur, b. Stockbridge; 27, M.; farmer, Spencer; 

June 21, '61; dis. Dec. 22, '62, disa.; d. since the war, 

Sturbridge. 
Nixon. Frederick M., b. Roxbury; 21, S.; printer, Greenfield; 

May 18, '61; wd. May 12, '64, Spottsylvania; M. O. 

July 1, '64; from Boston went in '67 to St. Louis, Mo., 

remaining there till '86; then in Chicago till 1901; since 

then, Bayonne, N. J.; has commanded Mansfield Post, 

G. A. R., Bayonne. 
Nutting, William, (Wagoner), b. Deerfield; 29, M.; clerk, 

Springfield; June 21, '61; M. 0. July 1, '64; re. Mar. 4, 

'65, Hancock's Veteran Corps; dis. Mar. 4, '66; in 1875, 

butcher, Springfield; 1908, N. S. H., Milwaukee, Wis. 



Company G 455 

Oakes, Orange Scott; 20, S.; mechanic, Orange; May 18, '61; 
wd. Fair Oaks; dis. Dec. 26, '62, disa.; later Co. G, 4th 
Mass. Cav.; rep. d. 1901. 

Osborne, Hubert P., (R), b. Blandford; 20, S.; laborer, Rus- 
sell; Nov. 30, '63; trans. June 20, '64, 37th Mass.; dis. 
June 15, '65; d. May, 1906, Agawam. 

Packard, Lucien M., b. Erving; 19, S.; mechanic, Erving; 
May 21, '61; d. Annapolis, Md., Dec. 26, '64; had been 
prisoner of war. 

Parker, Alpheus B., b. Whitingham, Vt.; 21, S.; farmer, 
Colrain; June 13, '61; wd. face, Salem Heights, and by 
sharpshooters, June 10, '63, through both thighs, Fred- 
ericksburg; dis. Nov. 18, '63, disa.; in 1908, Erving; 
has held office of School Com., Assessor, Overseer of Poor, 
Selectman, etc.; P. O., Millers Falls. 

Paulus, Nicholas, (R), b. Germanv; 45, M.; farmer, Gill; 
Aug. 9, '62; trans. Oct. 9, '63, V. R. C, Co. 227, 1st Batt.; 
M. O. June 23, '64; d. Sept. 1, '65; had served three years 
in the German army. 

Perry, Rufus Smith, b. Truxton, N. Y.; 23, S.; mechanic, 
Greenfield; May 18, '61; Corp., Aug. 2, '62; Sergt., 
Mar. 3, '63; never sick a day while in the service, nor lost 
a meal when one could be had; M. O. July 1, '64; in 
1873, mechanic, Millers Falls; d. Millers Falls; bur. 
Greenfield. 

Pierce, Charles P., b. Greenfield; farmer, Greenfield; May 18, 
'61; dis. May 9, '62 as First Sergt. for Com. as A. A. G., 
rank of Capt. O. W. D.; res. Sept. 12, '62; in 1873, 
farmer, Greenfield; d. April 23, 1888, while visiting, 
Keene, N. H.; bur. Greenfield. 

Pooley, John, (Sergt.), b. England; 40, M.; tailor, Chicopee, 
May 25, '61; First Sergt., Jan. 1, '63; re. Dec. 21, '63; 
stunned by musket blow upon the head, May 12, '64, 
Spottsylvania, was captured; suffered the horrors of 
Andersonville, eight months; on exchange and conva- 
lescence was ordered to his reg't. having been trans, to 
Co. F, 37th Mass.; joined the same at Wilson's Station, 
Va.; came back through Richmond to Alexandria and. 
June 21, '65, was trans, to 20th Mass.; M. O. July 16, '65; 
d. 1874, Providence, R. I. 

Potter, Edward F., b. Greenfield; 18, S.; lumberman, Erving; 
May 18, '61; dis. June 1, '63, disa.; 1909, Gardner, 



456 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

Potter, Frederick W., (R), b. Deerfield; 34, M.; slater, Gill; 
Aug. 11, '62; wd. shoulder. May 12, '64, Spottsylvania; 
M. O. July 1, '64; d. in Gill soon after the war from his 
wds. ; bur. Greenfield. 

Potter, George W., Jr., (Sergt.), b. Greenfield; 21, S.; truck- 
man, Greenfield; June 21, '61; prom. Second Lieut. 

Potter, James W., (R), b. Montague; 27, M.; farmer, Monta- 
gue; Aug. 9, '62; M. O. July 1, '64; in 1873, laborer, 
Montague City; 1909, Greenfield. 

Potter, Marshall A., b. Greenfield; 21, M.; lumberman, 
Northfield; May 18, '61; wd. shoulder. May 31, '62, 
Fair Oaks, and in hip. Wilderness; First Sergt., from 
Corp., June 20, '64; M. O. Ju.ly 1, '64; in 1873, machinist, 
Keene, N. H.; for the most part, since the war, dentist 
and clergyman, Worcester; he was one of six brothers, 
all of whom enlisted; two were killed and two wounded; 
P. O., Spencer. 

Potter, Wm. J., (R), b. Greenfield; 18, S.; farmer, Green- 
field; Feb. 24, '62; dis. May 2, '62, disa.; in 1873, 
Greenfield. 

Powers, Neville J., b. Hadley; 24, S.; mechanic, Greenfield; 
May 22, '61 ; broken down by the rigors of the Peninsular 
campaign, was sent to David's Island, New York Harbor, 
where he suffered amputation of a portion of his foot; 
dis. Dec. 11, '62, disa; in 1869, house painter, Troy, N. Y. 

Prentiss, George L., (R), b. Northbridge; 25, M.; currier, 
Pittsfield; April 5, '62; dis. Oct. 23, '62, disa. 

Puffer, Abram C, b. Montague; 19, S.; laborer, Sunderland; 
April 22, '61; d. Columbia College hosp., Washington, 
Nov. 28, '61; body sent home to his father, David Puffer, 
Montague, by the Company. 

Rice, William, (R), b. Becket; 21. —; farmer, Pittsfield; 
April 5, '62; trans. June 20, '64, 37th Mass.; M. O. 
June 21, '65. 

Ripley, Frank, b. Barre; 20, S.; mechanic, Montague; July 
3, '61; wd. May 5, '64, Wilderness; d. May 13, '64, of 
wds., Fredericksburg; bur. rear of Dr. Gordon's house. 

Robbins, James E., (R), b. Greenfield; 21, S.; farmer, Green- 
field; Feb. 24, '62; d. Jan. 2, '63, Falmouth, Va. 

Rockwood, Elihu R., b. Albanv, N. Y.; 19, S.; mechanic, 
Montague; May 18, '61; wd. hip, May 31, '62, Fair Oaks; 
dis. for Com. Second Lieut., 37th Mass., Aug. 27, '62; 



Company G 457 

prom. First Lieut., 4th Mass. Heavy Artillery, Aug. 23, 
'64; M. O. June 17, '65; his business life was spent in 
New York Citv, a photographer of note, dying in his 
studio, 239 Broadway, Mch. 30, 1908. 

Ryther, Charles W., b. Greenfield; 25, S.; laborer, Green- 
field; June 21, '61; dis. Oct. 30, '62, disa.; foreman in 
town employ, Greenfield, 1908. 

Ryther, Willim E., b. Greenfield; 19, S.; laborer, Greenfield; 
May 18, '61; k. May 3, '63, Salem Heights. 

Sawyer, Erastus O., b. Erving; 20, S.; laborer, Montague; 
June 21, '61; trans. Mar., '64, Co. I, 24th Reg't., V. R. C; 
dis. June 25, '64, ex. of s. ; State House Rolls say, "ab. 
sick at M. O., July 1, '64;" in 1909, mechanic. Orange. 

Scott, Dwight R., (R); 25, M; pail-maker, Greenfield; 
Sept. 6, '61; trans. 37th Mass., June 20, '64; M. O. 
Sept. 6, '64, ex. of s.; since the war, Worcester, manager 
of planers, saw and grist mills, captain of steamboat, 
Lake Quinsigamond, for seventeen years in charge of city 
scales,"retired 1904; P. O., 64 Locust Ave. 

Scott, Francis A., b. Gill; N. F. R. save desert. Oct. 25, '61; 
in 1873 was said to be in Bernardston. In justice to a 
good man, now dead, the following history is given on the 
word of his son Dwight: — Born in 18i2, F. A. Scott; 
was 49 years old when he enhsted, being one of the 52 
men brought down to the reg't. in the late summer of '61 
by Lieut. Remington, while his sons, Dwight and Will- 
iam were at once taken into the Company there was no 
room for the father, and he was waiting a vacancy when 
Capt. Dav, a former schoolmate, desired to send home his 
horse, no longer needed in Brightwood; Elihu Rockwood 
was to go with the steed and the senior Scott was sent 
along also, the Captain saying that he was too old for 
service and that his small children at home needed him. 
"Moreover," he added "you stay there and I will make it 
all right," but those were hurrying days, and Capt. Day 
fell on the field without saving the proper word, hence the 
record. He died in Worcester, Feb. 27, 1900. Not only 
were the other Scotts of "G" his sons but another son, 
Charles T., was in the 2nd Heavy Artillery. 

Scott, Lewis H., b. Gill; 21, S.; mechanic, Greenfield; May 
18, '61; wd. Julv 1, '62, Malvern Hill; it was late in the 
fight when, leaning against a tree he was hit in the face 
by a spent ball, the same, penetrating the jaw, knocked 



458 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

out seven teeth, a fragment of one of them lodging in his 
tongue, so that a piece of the same had to be cut oflE, 
his consequent weak jaw causing his dis. Aug. 28, '62, 
disa.; in 1908, 17 Russell St., Worcester. 

Scott, William H., (R), b. Gill; 19, S.; painter. Gill; Sept. 5, 
'61 ; wd. Salem Heights, right knee, and in the Wilderness, 
foot; trans. June 20, '64, :37th Mass.; M. O. Sept. 10, '64, 
ex. of s.; in 1869, painter, Woonsocket, R. I.; in 1908, 
N. S. H., Hampton, Va. 

Sibley, Truman A., b. Readsborough, Vt.; 28, M.; mechanic, 
Greenfield; June 21, '61; M. O. July 1, '64; in 1869, 
mechanic, Greenfield; dead. 

Simonds, Nathan H., b. Northfield; 22, S.; mechanic. North- 
field; M. O. July 1, '64; in 1873, Norwalk, Ohio, engineer; 
d. Feb., 1902. 

Smith, Albert, (R), b. Deerfield; 32, M.; farmer, Montague; 
Aug. 14, '62; wd. head. May 5, '64, Wilderness; M. O. 
Julv 1, '64; in 1869, ferrvman. Turners Falls; rep. 
d. 1902, Gill. 

Smith, Daniel, Jr., b. Southbridge; 20, S.; laborer. South- 
bridge; May 18, '61; wd. hand. Fair Oaks; dis. Nov. 
15, '62, disa.; in 1907, S. H. 

Smith, Wm. R., b. Conway; 22, S.; laborer, Gill; May 18, '61; 
wd. left thigh. Fair Oaks; dis. Nov. 5, '62, disa.; later 
in Co. F, 34th Mass.; trans. June 14, '64, 24th Mass.; 
in 1869, in South Adams, stencil cutter. 

Stratton, Samuel W., b. Morrisville, Vt.; 19, S.; mechanic, 
Spencer; June 22, '61; M. O. July, 1 '64; during his 
service, he saw only three weeks of illness and even then 
refused to go to the hosp.; Aug., '64, re. 20th unattached 
Co., sent to Gallup 's Island, Boston Harbor, where he 
d., Sept. 7, '64, diphtheria. 

Taft, Henry L., b. Heath; 22, S.; laborer, Greenfield; May 
18, '61; Corp., '62; Sergt., '63; carried the same musket 
through whole service, losing only one day's duty; 
M. O. July 1, '64; in 1907, wholesale produce dealer, 
Amherst. 

Tanner, Edgar W., b. Greenfield; 20, S.; mechanic, Green- 
field; May 18. '61; Corp., June 20, '64; M. O. July 1, '64; 
in 1873, teamster, Greenfield; rep. d. 1898. 

Taylor, Francis W., b. Becket; 18, S.; mechanic, Springfield; 
June 1, '61; ab. sick at M. 0. Julv 1, '64; d. Springfield, 
Mar. 22, 1906. 



Company G 



459 




H. L. TAFT, 
D. R. SCOTT, 



F. W. TAYLOR, 



S. R. WHIPPLE, 
W. H. ADAMS. 



Todd, Asa Emerson, b. Hawley; 22, S.; blacksmith, Deer- 
field; June 21. '61; Mar. 3, '63, detailed to Lowe's Bal- 
loon Corps; came back to Reg't. at Fairfax Court House; 
on return from Gettysburg, near Fairfield, overcome 
by the heat and left in a farmhouse; reaching Conva- 
lescent Camp near Alexandria, was trans. Feb., '64, 
Co. I, 24th. Reg't., V. R. C, serving as Q. M.'s clerk till 
M. O. June 23, '64; rep. d. 1899. 

Trask, Charles A., (Mus.), b. Worcester; 19, S.; mechanic, 
Erving; May 18, '61; M. O. July 1, '64. 

Wait, Marshall M., b. Greenfield; 19, S.; laborer, Greenfield; 
Mav 18, '61; re. Dec. 22, '63; wd. leg, Wilderness; trans. 
June 20, '64, 37th Mass.; trans. June 21, '65, 20th Mass.; 
M. O. July 16, '65. 



460 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

Webster, Joseph F., b. Montague; 19, S.; laborer, Montague; 
May 18, '61; at Fair Oaks, May 31, '62, hit in the head 
by first volley of the enemy, he fell, supposedly dead; 
on reviving, tried by walking and crawling to reach his 
comrades; after about thirty rods of such effort, was hit 
in his arm, then he went down, as he thought, never to 
rise again; from Saturday till Monday night, he lay there 
with no nourishment save two drinks of water, begged 
from the rebels; thence was taken to White House, 
where the ball was extracted from under left eye, his arm 
was splintered and he was placed on board a ship where 
he lay on the floor three days before the vessel sailed; 
June 8, he reached Philadelphia with 450 other wd. men; 
while lying on the field was robbed of his money and a 
part of his clothing; dis. Oct. 27, '62, disa.; in 1908, 
Orange. 

Wells, George W., (R), b. Bernardston; 23, M.; farmer, 
Bernardston; Mar. 7, '62; dis. Dec. 22, '62, disa. 

Wheelock, George A., b. Greenfield; 18, S.; , Spring- 
field; June 21, '61; M. O. Julv 1, '64; re. Dec. 30, '64, 
3rd Mass. Cav.; Corp., Mar. i, '65; dis. Sept. 28, '65; 
in 1869, Springfield. 

Whipple, Sheldon R., b. Sunderland; 20, S.; clerk, Montague; 
May 18, '61; one of five boys from Wendell who walked 
eighteen miles to Greenfield to help fill Co. G's roll and 
then, in the afternoon walked back again: H. Brooks, 
Miles Lewis, E. O. Sawyer, Whipple and A. L. Williams; 
served three months with the Balloon Corps, with air- 
ship, Washington, Profs. Lowe and James Allen, aero- 
nauts; wd. left hand, June 18, '64, skirmish line, in front 
of Petersburg; M. O. July 1, '64; in 1908, East Main St., 
Amherst, Mass. 

Whitmore, Charles M., (Corp.), b. Sunderland; 20. S; 
mechanic, Sunderland; April 22, '61; three wds. left leg, 
Fair Oaks; sixteen weeks in hosp., David's Island, N. Y., 
thence home, getting about on crutches most of the time; 
dis. Nov. 21, '62, disa.; till 1872, furniture dealer, 
Montague; then for five years with Esty Organ Co.; 
from 1877 to the present, 1909, Meriden, Conn., running 
an art store, giving up the same three years ago, on 
account of old wds. 

Whitmore, George A., b. Spring Prairie, Wis.; 21, S.; miller, 
Sunderland. May 18. '61; M. O. July 1. '64; dead. 



Company H 461 

Wilbur, James W., b. New Salem; 19, S.; laborer, Erving; 
May 18, '61; M. O. July 1, '64; in 1873, said to be in 
Erving; 1909, Orange. 

Wilcox, Dorvil M., b. Lexington, N. Y.; 20, S.; student, 
Pittsfield; July 6, '61; member of Williams College in '61, 
and is carried on the rolls of the College as a graduate 
in '64; wd. head, Wilderness; M. O. July 1, '64; later in 
3rd Maryland, serving until end of the war; graduating 
in medicine, Berkshire Medical School, '66, he now 
resides, 1909, Lee. 

Williams, Amos L., b. Montague; 27, S.; laborer, Wendell; 
June 7, '61; with others served about three months in 
the Balloon Corps in front of Fredericksburg; M. O. 
July 1, '64; in 1869, road builder, Orange; 1908 Orange. 

Williams, Francis, (R), b. Deerfield; 36, M.; mason. Gill; 

, Aug. 8, '62; reached the Reg't. at Antietam; wd. left 

' leg, Salem Heights, also right foot, May 12, '64, Spottsyl- 

vania; was twentv-four hours within the enemy's lines; 

M. O. July 1, '64; 'in 1872, stone mason. Gill; dead. 

Williams, Tyler F., b. Wendell; 19, S.; painter, Wendell; 
May 18,' '61; dis. July 14, '62, disa.; in 1873, said to be 
in Athol; rep. d. 1906. 

Wood, Edwin E., b. Roxburv; 22, S.; mechanic, Roxbury; 
May 18, '61; re. Dec. 20, '64; trans. June 20, '64, 37th 
Mass. ; trans. June 21, '65, 20th Mass.; M. O. July 16, '65. 

Wright, Gains T., b. Montague; 20, S. ; laborer, Montague; 
May 18, '61; wd. Fair Oaks, right cheek; re. Dec. 21. 
'63; k. Mav 5. '64, near Spottsylvania, Court House; 
State House rolls have "Gayous." 

Wright, George A., (R), b. Montague; 23, — ; , Green- 
field; Sept. 6, '61; Corp., Nov. 1, '63; trans. June 20, 
'64, 37th Mass.; dis. Newell says, at end of enlistment, 
though his name is not found on the roster of the 37th; 
in 1873, farmer, Montague; 1909, Montague. 

COMPANY H, SHELBURNE FALLS INFANTRY 

This was another of the original companies of the Tenth 
Mihtia. Organized in 1857, its first commander was Halbert 
S. Greenleaf, later Colonel of the 52nd Mass. in the Rebellion, 
with Ozro Miller as First Lieutenant. The latter succeeded 
to the captaincv, Mav, 1859, and was in command when the 



462 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

war began. The two towns of Shelburne and Buckland con- 
tributed their best material to its maintenance. As early 
as February 4th, 1861, in response to the famous General 
Order No. 4, the Company had voted nearly unanimously 
to obey the call of the Governor and it was proposed to call 
upon the two contributing towns to furnish new uniforms for 
the service. 

News from Sumter set the villages aflame, and the call 
from Washington for troops met with an immediate and 
hearty response. April 18th, the flag was hoisted from the 
armory, a salute of thirty-two guns was fired, and each 
township voted five hundred dollars for uniforms and proper 
equipment of the Company. Four days later, or April 22nd, 
a public meeting was held in Shelburne Falls, attended by 
the most prominent people of the locality. The Hon. Carver 
Hotchkiss presided and F. J. Pratt, Esq., was Secretary. 
Speeches were made by the Chairman, the Revs, W. F. Loomis 
and E. H. Gray, E. Maynard, Mr. Thayer and others. Messrs. 
Hotchkiss, Lamson and Maynard pledged their property, as 
far as it was necessary, for the support of families of volun- 
teers. Enthusiastic loyalty was the pervading tone of the 
meeting. The large sum of fifteen hundred dollars was sub- 
scribed for the purchase of revolvers and bowie-knives for 
the Company, a contribution that would not have been made 
had the people known as much of war as they did a few months 
later. This first assemblage for the furtherance of enlistment 
adjourned with three cheers for the Union. 

Annals of the period are not numerous, but it is on record 
that May 15th, a trial march was made by the Company 
through Buckland to Ashfield, camping there for the night, 
the next day proceeding to Conway, where camp was pitched 
for a second night. In both places the utmost hospitality 
was enjoyed, every one being anxious to express appreciation 
of the patriotic action of the men. In Buckland pupils of 
the young ladies' school, equipped with flags, were arrayed 
upon the common and as the line approached, saluted with 
waving flags, handkerchiefs and cheers. The wife of Dr. 
Trow, the village pastor, Mrs. Lord, and other patriotic 
ladies of the town brought baskets of provisions fresh from 
their homes, a welcome feast for the soldiers who, having 
stacked their guns, soon consumed the offering. One of the 
good women in her exuberance of generosity and loyalty, 
accompanied with impassioned gestures, exclaimed to some 
of the soldiers near, "If you ever prove traitors or back out 



Company H 463 

in this glorious cause, you shall never have another piece of 
Buckland pie." Judging from the record made by Company 
H, there were verv few of the men who were not eligible to 
a second piece of Buckland pastry when the war was over. 

Friday, June 14th, the Company was due in Springfield. 
The departure and the separation from homes and friends 
left a deep impression on all who participated or witnessed. 
Prayers were offered, benedictions pronounced, tokens of love 
and memory given, and the Captain of the Company, standing 
on the balcony of the hotel said, "Citizens, I accept the sacred 
trust you have committed to me — that of your sons. I promise 
to do the best I can for them; I will protect them, I will watch 
over them, and I trust I shall bring them back no worse than 
when I take them." He kept his promise well, for a father 
could not have cared more tenderly for his children than did 
Captain Miller for the young men whom he led. His precept 
and example were all that the most exacting could demand. 
Being the senior Company, it had the honor of the right of 
the line, a post of honor and of danger as well. At Fair Oaks, 
a good account was given. Company H contributing the 
first death from the Regiment, viz, that of Henry C. Sever- 
ance. Second Lieut. Leland was mortally wounded and 
First Sergt. Cutler fell at his post. It was a sad day for the 
towns of Franklin County when news of battle arrived, for 
it told of ten sons killed and nineteen wounded, some of them 
mortally, and others to be maimed for life. Only a little later 
the brave Captain himself was to fall at Malvern Hill. 

After the parting in Shelburne Falls the Company pro- 
ceeded to Greenfield, where another farewell scene was had, 
and thence with Company G, the train was taken for Spring- 
field, where Company H took its place in the regimental line. 

(For full explanation of abbreviations, see page 332.) 

COMMISSIONED OFFICERS 

CAPTAINS 

Ozro Miller, b. Dummerston, Vt.; 34, M.; manufacturer, 
Shelburne; June 21, '61; prom. Major. The son of the 
Hon. Thos. Miller, the future captain had the advantages 
of home and the local schools until about eighteen years 
old; then followed alternations of farm and academy 
with school teaching winters till he was twenty-one; 
next came a period at sea, followed by a trial of the drug 



464 The Tenth ]VL\ssachusetts Infantry 

business in Boston ; after a brief stay at home he suddenly 
started for CaUfornia, thus taking two years of his Hfe; 
marrying soon after, he came to Shelburne Falls and 
engaged in manufacturing; having been Captain of 
Co. H, two years before the war, he was the logical one to 
lead it when the war came. 

Flavel ShurtlefE ; July 21, '62, from A; wd. throat, May 3, '63, 
Salem Heights;' wd. left arm. May 6, '64, Wilderness; 
M. O. July 1, '64; bvt. Major, Mar. 13. '65; in 1875, 
retail shoe business. East Boston; in 1908, East Boston. 

Wm. Streeter; through consolidation of B, D and H, May 19, 
'64; Capt. Streeter of B was in command until M. O. 

FIRST LIEUTENANTS 

Chandler J. Woodward, b. Con wav; 30, M.; mechanic. Buck- 
land; June 21, '61; res. June 12, '62; in 1908, P. O. 
address, Neosho, Mo. 

Joseph H. Bennett; from Co. I; dismissed Nov. 25, '62; in 
1875, Chicopee Falls. 

Allen Sage Mansir; June 21, '62, from Co. A; trans., as Q. M., 
to Field and Staff. 

William Streeter; Sept. 28, '62, prom. Captain, Co. B. 

Alanson E. Munyan; Dec. 26, '62, from Sergt., Co. C; wd. 
May 12, '64, Spottsylvania, d. from wds., May 21, '64, 
Fredericksburg. 

SECOND LIEUTENANTS 

Benjamin F. Leland; 38, S.; mechanic, Buckland; June 21, 
'61; wd. May 31, '62, Fair Oaks, d. from wds. the next 
day ; his conduct in the fight was soldierly in the extreme , 
when wd. in the abdomen by a minie ball he tried to 
crawl off the field but could not, thus spending the night 
upon the ground ; the next day he was brought in by his 
men and survived his wd. thirty-six hours; like a brave 
man he died saying, "I have done my duty and am 
ready to depart." 

William Streeter; from Sergt., June 16, '62; prom. First 
Lieut. 

Alfred E. Midgely; Jan. 25, '63, from Corp.; wd. on skirmish 
line, Mav 5, Wilderness; d. from the same May 12, '62. 



Company H 



465 




1st. Serg't. W. W. CARPENTER, Serg't. J. W. BIGELOW, Capt. WM. STREETER. 
N. W. SMITH, Serg't. H. C. SEVERANCE, F. O. MORTON. 



NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS AND PRIVATES 

AUis, John D., b. Conway; 24, S.; farmer, Conway; April 
30, '61; wd. July 1, '62, Malvern Hill; captured and 
taken to Richmond with Major Miller and James Wil- 
liams; carried like sheep in a lumber wagon, twenty-four 
miles in four hours; shot just above the knee, the ball 
was not removed for seventeen days; July 19, left for 
David's Island, New York, where he d. Jan. 5, '63; 
bur. in Conway, Jan. 11, '63. 

Auger, Valentine J., b. Germany; 20, S.; baker, Buckland; 
June 21, '61; for two winters at Bright wood and Rappa- 
hannock, worked in the regimental bakery; M. O. July 
1, '64; since the war, Baltimore, Md. State House rolls 
have "Auger." 

Austin, Chauncey L., (R), b. Bozra, Conn.; 19, S.; cutter, 
Shelburne, cr. Buckland; Jan. 5, '64; trans. June 19, '64, 
37th Mass.; trans. June 21, '65, 20th Mass.; prom. 
Corp.; M. O. July 16, '65; d. Aug. 4, '73, Shelburne Falls 
and bur. there. 



466 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

Austin, John E., b. Manchester, Conn.; 20, S.; mechanic, 
Shelburne; June 21, '61; wd. left arm. May 31, '62, 
Fair Oaks, and May 5, '64, Wilderness; M. O. July 1, '64; 
in 1908, mechanic, Shelburne Falls. 

Averv, John, b. Charlemont; 21, S.; farmer, Charlemont; 
June 10, '61; wd. Julv 1, '62, Malvern Hill; dis. from 
hosp.. Philadelphia, Feb. 9, '63, disa.; in 1908, mechanic, 
Shelburne Falls. 

Bard, Peter, b. Canada; 26, M.; carpenter, Colrain; June 7, 
'61; trans. Feb. 18, '62, Western gunboat service; first, 
on the Cincinnati, had ribs broken at Island No. 10; wd. 
by spHnter, Vicksburg; at Fort Pillow, Cincinnati was 
sunk bv rebel ram and Bard was placed on receiving ship, 
Clara IDolson; dis. Dec. 9, '62, disa.; re. July 26, '63, 
Co. A, 15th Mass.; captured June 22, '64 and taken to 
Libby Prison; after two davs and nights, paroled and 
exchanged; Julv 28, '64, trans. 20th Mass.; M. O. 
July 16, '65; in 1908, Westfield. 

Bardwell, Frank D., (R), b. Whately; 20, S.; farmer, Shel- 
burne; Aug. 28, '62; wd. Wilderness, elbow; suffered 
from wd. till end of life; M. O. July 1, '64; d. Mar. 23, 
1873, New Milford, Conn. 

Bartlett, Joseph F., b. Ware,; 18, S.; clerk, Pelham; June 21, 
'61; Corp.. Nov. 1, '62; Sergt., May 1, '63; re. Dec. 20, 
'63; wd. Mav 5, '64, right thigh; trans. June 20, '64, 
Co. I, 37th Mass.; First Sergt., Sept. 17, '64; prom. 
Second Lieut., Mav 24, '65; First Lieut.. June 1, '65; 
trans. June 21, '65, 20th Mass.; M. O. July 16, '65; 
except for three months in hosp. with wd. and a thirty- 
day's furlough, had continuous service; for nearly forty 
years, merchant, Turners Falls; in town affairs, has held 
many offices, as Water Commissioner, Overseer of the 
Poor, School Committee, Selectman, twice Chairman of 
board. Representative in Legislature, '78 and '88; State 
Senator, '93 and 94, in both branches serving on impor- 
tant committees, twice on recess committees; j, six terms 
has commanded Post 162, G. A. R., and in '98 was Senior 
Vice-Commander, Department Mass.; is a director in 
Crocker National Bank, Vice-Pres. Crocker Savings Bank, 
and Pres. Frankhn Electric Light Co. Says his life after 
the Wilderness, is owed to Andrew Sauer who carried him 
more than a mile, to a place of safety two days after 
the fight. 



Company H 467 

Bates, Alonzo, b. Ashfield; 27, S.; mechanic, Conway; June 
21, '61; wd. thigh. May 31, '62, Fair Oaks; dis. Jan. 15, 
'63, disa.; in 1873, said to be in Greenfield. 

Bemis, Wm. H., b. Readsboro, Vt.; 21, S.; mechanic, Wil- 
hamsburg; June 10, '61; wd. July 1, '62, Malvern Hill 
and taken to Libby Prison; bur. body of Major Miller 
and marked his grave, making reclamation possible after 
the war; paroled Aug. 1, '62, and sent to Bellevue Hosp., 
New York; exchanged. Mar., '63, and rejoined the Reg't. 
at Falmouth; captured May 12, '64, Spottsylvania, and 
taken to Andersonville ; in Sept. trans, to Florence, S. C, 
and in Feb., '65 to Wilmington, N. C. ; was with the party 
of prisoners who were driven out of one side of the city, 
at the bayonet's point, as Terry and his forces were 
entering the other; paroled at Goldsboro, and Mar. 1, '65, 
, at Northeast River Bridge, came under the Union flag; dis. 

^ Boston, July 18, '65; in 1875, Shelburne Falls; has 
since died; rep. d. 1901. 

Bigelow, John W., (Corp.), b. Boston; 27, S.; manufacturer, 
Spencer; June 21, '61; wd. shoulder. Fair Oaks; Sergt., 
July 1, '62; M. O. July 1, '64; in 1869, boot-maker, 
Spencer; has been selectman; in 1880, was Representa- 
tive in Legislature; in 1908, mail carrier, Spencer. 

Blackwell, Lot M., b. Waterville, Vt.; 18, S.; mechanic, 
Shelburne; June 21, '61; M. O. July 1, '64; d. since the 
war in Washington, D. C. 

Blodgett, Joseph L., b. Charlemont; 36, S.; farmer, Charle- 
mon't; June 21, '61; M. O. July 1, '64; in 1869, farmer, 
Charlemont; d. Aug. 12, 1903. 

Boswell, Dennis A., (R), b. Montague; 37, M.; laborer, 
Montague; Aug. 9, '62; d. Dec. 22, '62, Falmouth, Va. 

Brackett, Henry W., (R); 39, M.; blacksmith, Greenfield; 
Aug.' 20, '62; served the greater part of his enlistment 
as blacksmith at brigade headquarters ; thought shoeing 
mules next thing to being shot; M. O. July 1, '64; m 
1873, blacksmith, Greenfield; d. Dec. 9, 1899. 

Briggs, Elijah M., b. Greenfield; 22, S.; mechanic, Shelburne; 
June 21, '61; k. May 31, '62, Fair Oaks. 

Briggs Pliny H., b. Greenfield; 23, M.; mechanic, Shelburne; 
June 21, '61; dis. Dec. 24, '63, disa.; in 1869, mechanic, 
Wallingford, Conn.; dead. 



468 



The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 




E. M. BRIGGS, 
JOHN AVERY, 



CHAS. F. POWERS, 
G. W. HARRIS. 



Brigham, Elijah, Jr., (Corp.), b. Marlboro; 33, M.; mechanic, 
Buckland; June 21, '61; dis. Oct. 23, '62, disa; later 
in Co. C, 1st Mass. Cav.; in 1873, was said to be in Wor- 
cester; dead. 

Bringolf, Jacob, b. Switzerland; 25, S.; mechanic, Buckland; 
June 21, '61; k. May 31, '62, Fair Oaks. 

Bringolf, John, b. Switzerland; 35, S.; mechanic, Buckland; 
June 21, '61; dis. Nov. 30, '62, disa.; returned to Swit- 
zerland after the war. 

Browning, Charles D., b. Rutland; 18, S.; boot-maker, 
Spencer; June 21, '61; dis. Dec. 26, '62, disa.; later in 
Co. M, 1st Mass. Cav.; serving at First Sergt. till Nov. 1, 
'64, then prom. Sergt. -Major; dis. June 26, '65; after the 
war, tailor in Chicago; d. Chicago, Nov. 28, 1892; bur. 
Rutland. 



Company H 469 

Buddington, Burnam M., (R), b. Leyden; 18, S.; farmer, 
Greenfield; Sept. 12, '61; dis. Oct. 27, '62, disa.; in 
1873, said to be in Brattleboro, Vt.; dead. 

Campbell, John R., (R), b. Andover; 19, S.; farmer, Shel- 
burne; Aug. 14, '62; re. Dec. 21, '63; k. May 6, '64, 
Wilderness. 

Carpenter, Walter W., (Corp.), b. Shelburne; 28, M.; farmer, 
Shelburne; June 21, '61; wd. Fair Oaks, body, just 
below left shoulder; was left on the field all night, used 
well by the enemy, covered with a blanket and given 
water; <iis. as First Sergt., Oct. 28, '62; in 1908, farmer, 
Shelburne. 

Carter, Nelson, b. Canada; 21, S.; painter, Leeds, Me.; 
June 21, '61; wd. July 1, '62, Malvern Hill; dis. Feb. 8, 
'63, disa. 

Chandler, Amariah, b. Deerfield; 23, S.; mechanic, Shelburne; 
June 21, '61; wd. left shoulder, Malvern Hill and had 
eight bullet holes in uniform; dis. Jan. 13, '63, disa.; 
mechanic, Shelburne Falls, 1908. 

Clark, Albert B., b. Ashfield; 22, M.; farmer, Hawley; June 
21, '61; wd. Malvern Hill which, with other ailments, 
disa. him for active service, upwards of a year; rejoined 
Reg't. at Brandy Station; wd. Spottsylvania, right leg, 
below the knee, ball never extracted; M. O. July 1, '64; 
in 1909, Spruce Corner. 

Coleman, Josiah S., (Corp.), b. Buckland; 38, S.; mason, 
Shelburne; June 21, '61; was Corp. of color guard from 
enlistment to end of service; dis. Nov. 8, '62, disa.; in 
1873, farmer, Byron, Mich.; dead. 

Conant, Edward P., (R), b. Buckland; 22, S.; mechanic, 
Shelburne; Aug. 28, '62; wd. hand. May 12, '64, Spott- 
sylvania; M. O. July 1, '64; dead. 

Cone, C3'rus B., (R), b. Dalton; 25, — ; gunsmith, Ashfield; 
Aug. 16, '62; wd. chest, front and left side. May 3, '63, 
Salem Heights; dis. Dec. 25, '63, disa.; unable to walk 
without crutches for three years following; in 1869, 
studying and practicing medicine; d. 1900. 

Cone, W. F., b. Thompsonville, Conn.; 21, S.; farmer, 
Conway; June 21, '61; wd. Malvern Hill; k. as Corp., 
May 5, '64, Wilderness. 

Conners, James, (R) ; 30, M.; laborer, Holyoke; Jan. 4, '64; 
k. May 12, '64, Spottsylvania. 



470 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

Curtis, John H., (Mus.), b. Colrain; 18, S.; clerk, Colrain; 
June 21, '61; dis. Aug. 10, '61, disa.; in 1908, Colrain. 

Cutler, Charles D., (First Sergt.), 30, M.; mechanic, Buckland; 
k. Fair Oaks, a minie ball passing through his head; 
before the fight began he remarked, "Now, boys, we 
shall see work." 

Daufen, Henry, (Corp.), b. Germany; 30, M.; machinist, 
Shelburne; June 21, '61; wd. mouth, Fair Oaks; ball 
found and extracted eight months later; dis. Nov. 5, '62 
disa.; in 1873, said to be in Beaver Falls, Pa.; dead 
State Rolls carry him as "Danfer." 

Day, Josiah P., (R), b. Collins, N. Y.; 25, S.; blacksmith 
Shelburne, Aug. 14, '62; M. O. July 1, '64; in 1908 
blacksmith, Bernardston. 

Dohertv, Michael, b. Ireland; 24, M.; mechanic, Buckland 
June 21, '61; d. Sept. 17, '61, Washington, D. C. 

Dole, Charles B., b. Shelburne; 19, S.; mason, Shelburne 
June 21, '61; re. Dec. 21, '63, when he had a thirty day's 
furlough, his first and last; trans. June 19, '64, 37th 
Mass.; captured Spottsvlvania and taken to Anderson- 
ville; d. Sept. 14, '64. 

Drake, Clement F., b. Holland; 20, S.; mechanic, Holland; 
June 21, '61; re. Feb. 20, '64; wd. left hand. May 5, '64, 
Wilderness; trans. June 19, '64, 37th Mass.; Corp. 
April 6, '65; trans. June 21, '65, 20th Mass.; M. O. 
July 16, '65; in 1869, Supt. Lehigh Valley Spike Works, 
Allentown. Pa.; since 1890, Weiser, Idaho; charter 
member, McConville Post, G. A. R. ; Commander of Dep't., 
Idaho, 1904. 

Dresser, Wm. O., (R), b. Erving; 28, S.; laborer, Erving; 
Jan. 9, '64; cr. West Springfield, trans. June 19, '64, 
37th Mass.; trans. June 21, '65, 20th Mass.; M. O. July 
16, '65; in 1908, Millers Falls. 

Duncan, Elijah W., (R), b. Deerfield; 20, S.; — , Green- 
field; Corp., May 1, '63; trans. June 19, '64, 37th Mass.; 
dis. Sept. 12, '64, ex. of s.; in 1873, Supt. Thompson's 
Queensware and Sewer Pipe Works, St. Louis; in 1908, 
St. Louis, Mo. 

Eason, Timothv W., b. Guilford, Vt.; 21, S.; mechanic, Col- 
rain; June 21, '61; M. O. July 1, '64; in 1873, farmer 
and in militia, Vernon, Vt.; in 1908, Brattleboro, Vt. 



Company H 471 

Edwards, Lewis R., b. Charlemont; IS, S.; farmer, Charle- 
mont; June 21, '61; trans. Mar. 15, '64, V. R. C; in 
1908, Charlemont. 

Emerson, Josiah S., (R), b. Danville, Vt.; 37, M.; laborer, 
Shelburne; Aug. 14, '62; k. May 12, '64, Spottsylvania. 

Fay, Elisha W., b. Enfield, Conn.; 21, S.; farmer, Shelburne; 
June 21, '61; k. May 31, '62, Fair Oaks. 

Field, George W., (Sergt.), b. Northfield; 21, S.; engineer, 
Northfield; June 21, '61; dis. Aug. 10, '61, disa.; rep. 
dead. 

Fogg, Lucien, (Corp.), b. Thomaston, Me.; 18, S.; boot- 
maker, Spencer; June 21, '61; k. May 12, '64, Spottsyl- 
vania. 

Franklin, John A., (Rj, b. Guilford, Vt.; 28, M.; farmer, 
Shelburne; joined Reg't. at Antietam, Aug. 28, '62; wd. 
side and captured, Spottsylvania; released Aug. 22, '64, 
thus being ab. at M. O. July 1, '64; in 1908, Shelburne. 

Fuller, Benjamin F., (R) ; 30, — ; carriage trimmer, Roxbury; 
Aug. 29, '62; re. Dec. 21, '64, cr. Framingham; trans. 
June 19, '64, 37th Mass.; trans. June 21, '65, 20th Mass.; 
M. O. July 16, '65; rep. dead. 

Gilbert, Wm. E., (R), b. Worthington; 26, S.; farmer, Hins- 
dale; Feb. 17, '62; dis. Nov. 1, '62, disa.; dead. 

Gorman, Michael, b. Ireland; 17, S.; farmer, Holyoke; 

June 21. '61; k. May 5, '64, Wilderness. 
Gragg, Wm. H., b. Colrain; 30, M.; tailor, Shelburne; June 

21, '61; dis. Oct. 30, '62, disa.; in 1873, tailor, Hartford, 

Conn. ; dead. 
Griebel, John, b. Germanv; 39, S.; tailor, Shelburne; dis. 

Mar. 28, '62, disa.; in Co. A, 23rd Reg't., V. R. C, from 

June 18, '63, to Nov. 14, '65; in 1869, tailor, Shelburne 

Falls; dead. 
Grover, Henrv, b. Hahfax, Vt.; 26, M.; farmer, Guilford, 

Vt.; June 21, '61; dis. Dec. 24, '61, disa.; rep. d. 1900. 

Guilford, Murray J., (R), b. Ashfield; 20, S.; , Ash- 
field; Sept. 10, '61; wd. side, Malvern Hill; trans. 
June 19, '64, 37th Mass.; dis. Feb. 21, '65, ex. of s.; in 
1869, farmer. South Ashfield; in 1908, Greenfield. 

Haigis, Jacob, b. Germany; 25, M.; mechanic, Shelburne; 
June 21, '61; re. Feb. 19, '64; trans. June 19, '64, 37th 



472 



The Tenth Massachvsetts Infantry 




E. C. MORTON, 
B. HASTINGS. 



C. F. DRAKE, 



T. F. HARRINGTON, 
C. D. HOTCHKISS. 



Mass.; dis. June 21, '65, O. W. D.; in 1869, mechanic, 
Shelburne Falls; k. by accidental discharge of shot-gun, 
Jan. 15, 1880. Borne on State House rolls as "Hargis." 

Harrington, Thomas F., b. Heath; 18, S.; mechanic, Heath; 
June 21, '61; wd. shoulder. Fair Oaks; dis. Dec. 31, '62, 
disa.; in 1873, lumber merchant. Turners Falls; since 
1884, wooden box manufacturer, Montague; in 1908, 
manager Montague Electric Light and Power Co. 

Harris, George W., (R), b. Gill; 20, S.; farmer, Gill; Aug. 9, 
'62; joined Reg't. on field of Antietam; M. 0. July 1, '64; 
in 1908, farmer, Riverside, Gill. 

Hastings, Benjamin, Jr., (R), b. Greenfield; 32, M.; farmer, 
Greenfield; trans. V. R. C, Nov. 15, '63; M. O.'Aug. 
15, '64; in 1908, Gill. 



Company H 473 

Hastings, John G., b. North Providence, R. I.; 27, M.; boot- 
maker, Spencer; June 21, '61; dis. Dec. 21, '61; in 1869, 
dealer in fish and oysters. Providence, R. I.; in 1908^ 
Spencer. 

Hastings, Parmlv C, (R), b. Greenfield; 29, M.; laborer, 
Greenfield; Aug. 20, '62; trans. May 18, '64, V. R. C; 
M. 0. June 28, '64; in 1873, said to be in Wendell; d. 
Dec. 27, 1884, Greenfield. 

Henry, David, b. Rowe; 22, S.; farmer, Rowe; June 21, '61;. 
dis. Oct. 8, '61, disa.; in 1873, chair-stock manufacturer, 
P. O., Zoar; in 1908, Deerfield. 

Hermann, John, b. Germany; 20, S.; mechanic, Buckland; 
June 21, '61; wd. breast, Fair Oaks and hand, Spottsyl- 
vania; M. O. July 1, '64; in 1869, cutler, Shelburne 
^ jFalls; dead. 

Hersey, John W., (R), b. Spencer; 20, M.; armorer, Spring- 
field; Aug. 20, '62, his wedding day, on whose afternoon 
in recruiting tent of the tenth Reg't., pitched on exact 
site of Soldiers' monument, Court Square, he enlisted; 
joined Reg't. at Antietam and was armed and equipped 
with an outfit actually taken from hands and bodies of 
the dead and then fell in line with the other soldiers; 
wd. foot. May 3, '63, Salem Heights; re. Feb. 20, '64; 
wd. head. Wilderness; trans. June 19, '64, Co. B, 37th 
Mass.; Aug., '64, trans. Co. D, 9th Reg't., V. R. C; 
prom. Sergt., Jan. 6, '65; dis. July 20, '65; in 1869 
merchant. South Hadley Falls; in 1908, furniture 
dealer, Springfield; has held the position of Deputy 
Sheriff and for many years was a prominent court 
official ; in 1885, Commander, Dep't. Mass. G. A. R. ; for the 
last five years, member of National Council of Adminis- 
tration, G. A. R., and for nearly twenty-five years has 
been a trustee of Soldiers' Home, Chelsea. 

Hill, Leander V., b. Ashfield: 22, S.; farmer, Ashfield; June 
13, '61; dis. April 12, '63, disa.; in 1869, farmer, Ash- 
field; in 1909, Ashfield, (Spruce Corner). 

Hindley, Solomon K., b. England; 24, S.; teacher, Spencer; 
June 14, '61; partially paralyzed Mar. 31, '62, not re- 
porting for duty again till June, '63; Corp., June '63; 
his services were mainly in a clerical capacity, finally in 
office of Gen. Chas. Devens, Gallup's Island, Boston 
Harbor; M. O. July 1, '64; in 1873, bookkeeper, Worces- 
ter; d. Oct. 13, 1902. 



474 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

Hotchkiss, Charles D., b. Windsor, N. Y.; 25, S.; farmer, 
Shelburne; June 21, '61; dis. Oct. 3, '62, disa.; in 1907, 
farmer, Shelburne Falls. 

Howard, George H., b. Brookfield; 26, S.; boot-maker, 
Spencer; June 21, '61 ; did Provost duty at Div. and Corps 
Headquarters; M. O. July 1, '64; in 1875, store keeper, 
West Brookfield; Commander, Post 38 and 160; Aide 
on Staff of Commander-in-chief, S. S. Burdett. 1885-86; 
for thirty years an invalid on account of paralysis, left 
side, getting about only with crutches; in 1907, West 
Brookfield. 

Howe, John M., b. Brookfield; 29, M.; farmer, Brookfield; 
Jan. 4, '64; trans. April 1, '64, Signal Corps; dis. July 8, 
'65; in 1875, farmer, East Brookfield; d. May 9, 1905, 
Springfield. 

Howes, Daniel G., (R), b. Ashfield; 24, S.; — -, Ashfield; 

Sept. 12, '61; wd. May 31, '62, Fair Oaks; dis. Oct. 25, ^ 
'62, disa.; for many years dealer in fish and oysters, 
Shelburne Falls; for the last three vears of his life on 
Orr's Island, Me.; d. May 5, 1908, Shelburne Falls. 

Hubbard, George F., (R), b. Barre; 25, S.; telegrapher, 
Northampton; Dec. 29, '63; captured May 19, '64, and 
was in the hands of enemy when he was trans., June 19, 
'64, 37th Mass., whose historian says his fate is unknown. 

James, Charles G., b. Wales; 25, S.; mechanic, Buckland; 
June 21, '61; M. O. Julv 1, '64; in Sept., 1873, Seymour, 
Conn.; d. Jan. 21, 1900. 

Johnson, Sylvester D., b. Hardwick; 22, S.; mechanic, 
Spencer; June 21, '61; k. May 31, '62, Fair Oaks; in 
June, '62, his body was exhumed and sent to Barre for 
reburial; a monument was erected to his memory. 

Knapp, Wm. H., b. Worcester; 21, M.; boot-maker, Spencer; 
June 21, '61; ab. sick at M. O. July 1, '64; another 
record says, "desert., no date. Chain Bridge, Va." 

Lamb, Willard, b. Guilford, Vt.; 30, M.; farmer, Colrain; 
June 21, '61; k. May 5, '64, Wilderness. 

Langstroth, James T., b. Andover; 23, S.; apiarian, Colrain; 
June 21, '61; dis. Aug. 23, '61, disa.; dead. 

Liddy, Anthony, (R) ; 32, M.; cutler, Buckland; Feb. 29, '64; 
k. June 5, '64, Cold Harbor. 

Lilly, Rufus, b. Ashfield; 20, S.; farmer, Ashfield; June 21, 



Company H 



475 




C. L. AUSTIN, 
J. W. HERSEY, 



CORP. M. MURPHY, 
1st. Serg't. M. H. VINCENT, 



A. TOLMAN, 
J. HAIGIS. 



'61; dis. Aug. 10, '61, disa.; re. Sept. 1, '62, 52nd Mass.; 
dis. Aug. 14, '63; in 1869, machinist, Greenfield; d. 1902. 

Livermore, Lorenzo D., b. South Royalton, Vt.; 23, M.; 
mechanic, Spencer; June 21, '61; wd. May 31, '62, Fair 
Oaks; dis. Oct. 27, '62, disa.; later drafted and sent to 
Co. I, 12th Mass., July 14, '63; wd. hand, Wilderness; 
trans. June 25, '64, Co. A, 39th Mass.; trans. June 2, '65, 
32nd Mass.; dis. June 29, '65, with a record of service in 
four regiments; in 1872, Springfield; dead. 

Luther, Henrv W., b. Spencer; 20, S.; shoemaker, Spencer; 
June 21,' '61; wd. Fair Oaks; dis. Oct. 30, '62, disa.; 
re. July 28, '63, 2nd Heavy Art., and appointed Corp.; 
d. Newbern, N. C, Oct. 23, '64; bur. Spencer. 

Lyon, Henry P., b. Spencer; 26, S.; shoemaker, Spencer; 
June 21, '61; dis. Oct. 28, '61, disa.; d. 1901. 



476 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

Markham, Wm. A., b. Ireland; 21, S.; boot-maker, Spencer; 
June 21, '61; Corp., May 1, '63; Captured Spottsylvania 
and paroled, Charleston harbor, S. C., Dec. 18, '64; dis. 
Mar. 7, '65; in 1869, boot-maker, Worcester; d. Dec. 
19, 1871. 

Mehan, William, b. Ireland; 21, S.; mechanic, Buckland; 
June 21, '61; d. Oct. 9, '61, Columbia College Hosp., 
Washington, D. C. State House rolls, "Meehan." 

Merrill, Asa C, (R), b. Monmouth, 111. ; 18, S. ; farmer, Spring- 
field; June 14, '61; k. May 31, '62, Fair Oaks. 

Merrill, James L., Jr., b. Montague; 20, S.; mason, Athol; 
June 10, '61; at Fair Oaks, carried his wounded brother, 
John, off the field and remained with him, directed thus 
by Capt. Miller; in Baltimore, accidentally shot in foot, 
by patrol who was pursuing an escaping soldier; dis. 
Oct. 28, '63, disa.; in 1869, Athol, stone mason; d. 
April 16, 1884. 

Merrill, John F., b. Greenfield; 21, S.; mason, Athol; 
April, '61; wd. May 31, '62, Fair Oaks; hit in the neck, 
the ball passed downward through the lungs; had it not 
been for his brother's help, must have died; for three 
years after discharge could do no work; in 1869, in charge 
of building a bridge, Zoar; in 1907, stone mason, Athol 
Center; d. July 27, 1908. 

Midgeley, Alfred E., b. England; 24, S.; boot-maker, Spencer; 
June 21, '61; Corp., July 1, '61; prom. Second Lieut. 

Monroe, Dwight F., b. Spencer; boot-maker, Spencer; June 
21, '61; wd. leg. May 31, '62, Fair Oaks; dis. Dec. 14, '62, 
disa.; in 1875, North Brookfield; in 1907, Spencer; first 
man wounded in the regiment. 

Morrissey, John; 21, S.; mechanic, Greenfield; June 21, '61; 
re. Jan. 20, '64; trans. June 19, '64, 37th Mass.; trans. 
June 21, '65, 20th Mass.; M. O. July 16, '65; d. N. S. H., 
Togus, Me., Mar. 29, 1887. 

Morton, Emorv C, (Wagoner), b. Shelburne; 20, S.; mechanic, 
Buckland; June 21, '61; dis. April 16, '63, disa.; in 1907, 
Washington, D. C. 

Morton, Frederick O., b. Shelburne; 22, S.; mechanic, Shel- 
burne; June 21, '61; Jan. 4, '62, detailed with forty-one 
others by Gen. John A. Dix to garrison Craney Island, 
near Fort Monroe, Contraband headquarters. Depart- 
ments, Va. and N. C; Mar. 1, '62, overseer, confiscated 



Company H 477 

farms in Norfolk and Princess Anne counties, Va., re- 
maining there the most of the time till Oct., '63, when 
his knee-pan was broken by the kick of a horse; in hosp. 
until dis. by order of General Butler, June 21, '64; in 
1869, lock pohsher, Norwalk, Conn.; dead. 

Murphv, John J., (Wagoner), b. Ireland; 37, M.; teamster, 
Shelburne; June 21, '61; re. Jan. 20, '64, cr. Buckland; 
trans. June 19, '64, 37th Mass.; trans. June 21, '65, 20th 
Mass.; M. O. Julv 16, '65; in 1873, cutler, Shelburne; 
d. Nov. 2, 1907, N. S. H., Togus, Me. 
Murphy, Michael, b. Ireland; 22, S.; mechanic, Buckland; 
June 21, '61; Corp., May 1, '63; re. Feb. 22, '64; trans. 
June 19, '64, 37th Mass.; trans. June 21, '65, 20th Mass.; 
M. O. Julv 16, '65; in 1873, cutler, Northampton; d. 
July 18. 1879. 
Murphy, Thomas, b. Ireland; 20, S.; cigar maker, Spencer; 
June 21, '61; wd. hand. Fair Oaks; M. O. July 1. '64; 
in 1875, Chicago, III.; d. 1908, Chicago. 
Nelson, James, b. Franklin, N. Y.; 22, S.; farmer, Buckland; 
June 21, '61; dis. Feb. 13, '63, disa.; k. Jan. 23, '65, by 
the falling of a limb from a tree, Buckland. 
Nims, Silas, (Sergt.); 38, M.; mechanic, Shelburne; June 
21, '61; dis. Mar. 28, '62, disa.; d. in his home, July 28, 
'62; bur. Shelburne Falls. State House rolls say, "dis. 
May 28." 
Packard, Cullen C, (R), b. Cummington; 23, S.; dentist, 
Shelburne; Aug. 14, '62; appointed Adjutant's clerk 
soon after joining Reg't. and served thus till M. O. July 
1, '64; in 1873, had been a photographer eight years, 
Kalamazoo, Mich.; d. May 31, 1893. 
Parsons, Henry, b. Goshen; 35, — ; laborer. Ashfield; June 
21, '61; wd. right arm. Fair Oaks; M. O. July 1, '64; 
in 1873, Ashfield; in 1907, Spruce Corner, Ashfield. 
Powers, Charles F., (R), b. Greenfield; 20, S.; farmer. Heath; 
Aug. 9, '62; wd. head. May 3, '63, Salem Heights; lay 
on the field 24 hours; trans. V. R. C, Feb. 16, '64; dis. 
June 23, '64 from Mt. Pleasant Hosp., Washington; m 
1869, farmer. Heath; in 1907, Shelburne Falls. 
Powers, Lawson S.; 38, S.; shoemaker, Spencer; June 21, 
'61; trans. Oct, 21, '61, regimental band; dis. June 21, 
'62,' disa.; d. May 12, 1872, Spencer. 



478 



The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 




J. E. AUSTIN, P. C. HASTINGS, ANDREW SAUER , 

CORP. J. E. WILSON, SERGT. E. WOODWARD, SERG'T. O. B. WOOD. 



Prouty, Lucius M., b. North Brookfield; 29, M.; shoemaker, 
Spencer; June 21, '61; dis. Nov. 26, '62, disa.; in 1869, 
cutter, North Brookfield; d. Feb. 27, 1885. 

Putnev, Alfred L., (R), b. Ashfield; 20, S.; , Shel- 

burne; Sept. 12, '61; trans. June 19, '64, 37th Mass.; 
M. O. Sept. 12, '64; in 1869, physician and surgeon, 
Shelburne Falls, later, for many years, New York City; 
d. April 13, 1897; bur. Shelburne Falls. 

Putney, Nahum S., b. Ashfield; 22, S.; clerk, Shelburne; 
June 21, '61; k. May 31, '62, Fair Oaks. 

Rawson, John, (R), b. Buffalo, N. Y.; 24, — ; carpenter, 
Springfield; Aug. 20, '62; M. O. Julv 1, '65; gas fitter, 
Boston; d. Julv 16, 1902. 



Company H 479 

Rhoades, Edward B., (R), b. Saugus; 20, S.; gas fitter, 
Saugus; Aug. 20, '62; M. O. July 1, '64. 

Riedel, Jacob, b. Prussia; 27, M.; mechanic, Buckland; 
June 21, '61; k. May 3, '63, Salem Heights. 

Russell, Charles, b. Rutland, Vt.; 21, S.; machinist, Spring- 
field; June 21, '61; re. Jan. 20, '64; wd. losing finger, 
Wilderness; trans. June 19, '64, 37th Mass.; d. of wds. 
Winchester, Oct. 7, '64. 

Russell, Charles W., (R), b. New Bedford; 18, S.; farmer, 
Shelburne; Aug. 15, '62; k. May 5, '64, Wilderness. 

Sauer, Andrew, b. Germany; 19, S.; mechanic, Buckland; 
June 21, '61; M. O. July 1, '64; left Saxony, 1S60, to 
avoid military service; nine weeks on the sea, from 
Bremen to New York; in 1907, had conducted a men's 
clothing business in Shelburne Falls, thirty-seven years; 
was two years chief, Fire Dep't.; in 1907, was serving 
seventh year on School Com., and eleventh year. Board 
of Selectmen, Assessors and Overseers of Poor, Buckland; 
Pres. 10th Reg't. Vet. Association, 1897-'98. State 
House rolls say, "Sawen." 

Severance, Henry C, b. Shelburne; 21, S.; mechanic, Shel- 
burne; June 21, '61; k. May 31, '62, Fair Oaks, the first 
man of Co. H to fall that day. 

Sheehan, John, (R) ; 28, M.; cutler, Buckland; Feb. 29, '64; 
trans. June 19, '64, 37th Mass.; trans. June 21, '65, 
20th Mass.; M. 0. July 16, '65; in 1875, P. O., Shelburne 
Falls; dead. 

Sheldon, Alexander C, (R), b. Gill; 23, — ; farmer, Gill; 
Sept. 2, '62; dis. Dec. 7, '63, disa.; dead. 

Smith, Nathan W., (R), b. New Salem; 18, S.; farmer, Gill; 
Aug. 7, '62; M. O. July 1, '64; since the war, has lived 
in Gill,' Bernardston, Northampton, Greenfield, and for 
the last thirty-five years in Millers Falls, working for the 
Millers Falls Co. 

Snow, Leander A., (Asaph Leander), b. Colrain; 18, S.; 
farmer, Colrain; June 21, '61; trans. Aug. 4, '62, to U. S. 
Hosp. Service as Hosp. Steward; his said to be the first 
case of promotion from the ranks to the non-commissioned 
staff of the regular army; in the field, served in the 
division of the Mississippi; dis. U. S. service, Aug. 11, '65; 
Captain and Aide on staff of Gov. Brownlow of Tenn.; 



480 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

from '68 to 78 U. S. Claim Agent, Tazewell, Tenn.; was 
Postmaster, Tazewell, and, '82 and '83, Deputy Collector, 
Internal Revenue at McMinnville, Tenn.; in 1884, 
removed to Chattanooga, and later to Lafayette, Ga., 
in 1890, buying a farm and there residing until his death, 
May 1, 1899; accidentally killed at Snow's siding on his 
own farm by a locomotive; he was also Postmaster of 
Lafayette. 

Spooner, Herman A., b. Wendell; 21, S.; farmer, Heath; 
June 21, '61; k. May 31, '62, Fair Oaks; one of the first 
to fall. 

Stempel, Adolph, b. Prussia; 40, S.; mechanic, Shelburne; 
June 21, '61; dis. July 18, '62, disa.; after the war 
returned to Germany. 

Stevens, Elliott O., b. Winsted, Conn.; 33, S.; mason, Shel- 
burne; June 21, '61; dis. Dec. 31, '62, disa.; dead. 

Stone, Charles W., (R), b. N. Y. State; 18, S.; farmer, Green- 
field; Sept. 12, '61, Co. I; in '63, May 12, trans, to Co. H; 
trans. June 19, '64, 37th Mass.; dis. Sept. 12, '64, ex. of s. 

Stratton, George F., b. Berry, Vt.; 19, S.; farmer, Colrain; 
June 21, '61; wd. shoulder, Fair Oaks; carried to David's 
Island, N. Y., and there d. of wd. June 12, '62. 

Streeter, William, (Sergt.); 25, S.; machinist, Shelburne; 
b. Whitingham, Vt.; June 21, '61; wd. head, Fair Oaks; 
he and one other, also wd., were the only Sergts. of 
Co. H, who did not receive death strokes on that day; 
prom. Second Lieut.; when thus promoted, his comrades 
gave him a sword belt and cap. 

Taylor, Horace V., (Corp.), b. Ashfield; farmer, Ashfield; 
June 21, '61; M. O. July 1, '64; in 1873, Chicago, 111.; 
d. June 9, 1882. 

Tolman, Albert, (R), b. Troy, X. H.; 33, M.; laborer, Shel- 
burne; Aug. 14, '62; never sick, was in every fight, and 
was never hit; M. O. July 1, '64; in 1869,"^ machinist, 
Shelburne Falls; d. Feb. 3, 1884. 

Upton, George E., b. Charlemont; 24, M.; mechanic, Charle- 
mont; June 21, '61; dis. Oct. 28, '61, disa. 

Utley, Henry C, b. England; 32, M.; mechanic, Shelburne; 
June 21, '61; wd. May 31, '62, Fair Oaks, shot in the 
head, behind the ear, he came ofE the field alone; the next 
morning he was seen to approach the hosp., take hold of 
a comrade and try to speak; taken into the hosp. his 



Company H 



481 




SERG'T. J. F. BARTLETT, 
A. CHANDLER, 



A. B. CLARK, 



J. A. FRANKLIN, 
CORP. H. V. TAYLOR. 



wd. was dressed and he was sent to Washington, where 
he was unable to give his name and regiment, dying 
delirious, June 5, '62 ; an envelope established his identity. 

Veber, Elias E., (R), b. Charlemont; 20, S.; . Charle- 

mont; Sept. 12, '61; wd. hand, Fair Oaks; dis. Sept. 17, 
'62, disa; re. Co. F, 34th Mass.; wd. breast, Piedmont 
and captured, a prisoner four months; trans. June 24, 
'65, 24th Mass.; dis. on account of wds., July 24, '65; 
in 1869, farmer, North Brookfield; in 1907, N. S. H., 
Togus, Me. 

Veber, George A., (Corp.), b. Charlemont; 28, S.; mason, 
Charlemont; k. May 31, '62, Fair Oaks. 



482 Thk Tkxth Massachusetts Infaxthy 

Vincent, David ^I.; 21, S.; farmer, Ashfield; June 21. '61; 
dis. Nov. 22, '61, disa.; d. 1901. 

Vincent, Micajah H., (R), b. Hawley; 32, — ; shoemaker, 
Hawley; Sept. 12, '61; Corp., June 1, '62; wd. Malvern 
Hill, and captured; taken to Libby Prison and kept 
twenty days; Sergt., Nov. 1, '62; First Sergt.. Mar. 1, 
'63; re. Dec. 21, '63, cr. Ashfield; captured at Spottsyl- 
vania, kept four months in Andersonville and three in 
Florence, S. C; meantime was trans, to 37th Mass.; 
trans. June 21, '65, 20th Mass.; M. O. July 16, '65; in 
1869, fruit farming, Hammonton, N. J., in whose town 
council he served two years; in 1907, Conway, where he 
has held all the offices in Post 164 G. A. R., including the 
command two years. 

Vincent, William T., (R), b. Ashfield; 24, — ; farmer, Ash- 
field; Sept. 12, '61; dis. Dec. 23, '62, disa.; d. June 4, 
1882. 

Warner, George O.; 21, — ; , Medford; July 24, '61; 

dis. Aug. 23, '61, disa. 

W^arner, James M., (R), b. Savov; 22, M.; farmer, Savov; 
Aug. 14, '62; dis. Dec. 19, '62, disa. 

Warren, Alonzo H., b. Conway; 20, S.; farmer, Conwav; 
June 21, '61; M. O. July 1, '64; in 1869, farmer, Sotith 
Ashfield; d. 1906, Holyoke. 

Williams, James M.. b. Charlemont; 20, S.; farmer, Shel- 
burne; June 21, '61; wd. mouth, Malvern Hill, and 
taken to Richmond as prisoner; d. there of wds., Julv 
17, '62. 

W^ilHs, William E., b. Ashfield; 19, S.; farmer, Buckland; 
June 21, '61; d. June 23, '62, White House, Va. 

Wilson, George W., b. Shelburne; June 21, '61; mechanic, 
Shelburne; wd. forehead, Malvern Hill, by the same ball 
which inflicted fatal wd. upon John D. Allis; dis. Oct. 
25, '62, disa.; in 1873, shipping clerk, Shelburne Falls; 
dead. 

Wilson, James E., b. Hebron, N. Y.; 21, S.; macliinist, 
Shelbt;rne; June 21, '61; at Spottsylvania was a prisoner 
about two hours; Corp., Nov. 16, '62; M. O. July 1, '64; 
in 1869, machinist, Indianapolis, Ind. ; in 1909, Worcester. 

W^ood, Otis B., b. Canaan, Conn.; 21, S.; farmer, Hawlev; 
June 21, '61; Corp., Nov. 13, '62; Sergt., May 1, '63; 



Company H 



483 




C. \V. RUSSELL, 
L. A. SNOW, 



P. H. BRIGGS, 



G. H. HOWAUU, 
WM. E. WILLLS. 



\vd. shoulder, Salem Heights; re. Dec. 21, '60; trans. 
June 19, '64, 37th Mass.; First Sergt., April 18, '65; 
trans. June 21, '65, 20th Mass.; prom. First Lieut, to 
date from June 1, '65; M. O. Julv 16, '65; in 1873, 
painter. Turners Falls; d. Dec. 3, 1903. 

Woodward, Eliphaz, (Corp.), b. Buckland; 40, M.; mason, 
Buckland; June 21, '61; came out of Fair Oaks, com- 
manding Co. H, though wd. in knee; wd. Malvern Hill, 
thigh; trans. Sept. 16, '63, V. R. C, serving out his time 
as Commissary Sergt.; dis. June 20, '64; in 1869, stone 
mason, Shelburne Falls; d. May 1, 1884. 

Woodward, Marcus M., b. Buckland; 20, S.; farmer. Buck- 
land; June 21, '61; wd. leg. Fair Oaks; dis. Mar. 10, '63, 
disa.'; "in 1907, N. S. H., Togus, Me. 



484 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

COMPANY I 
WEST SPRINGFIELD AND HOLYOKE 

A union Company, resulting from the efforts of the two 
towns to each raise a Company; there were not enough 
recruits for two Companies, but the merging of the nearly 
fifty men secured in each place made one good organization. 
As in the other towns, there were public meetings, the first 
one in West Springfield, coming April 22nd, in the town hall, 
with Col. Edward Parsons presiding, and H. Dickinson, 
Secretary. The calling of a town meeting was unanimously 
voted, nearly fifty names were secured and drilling began at 
once in Suffield hall. The specially called town meeting was 
held on the 30th of April and it was voted to present every 
man enlisting from the town with a revolver. 

In Holyoke, similar action in the way of meetings was had, 
and on May 6th, the West Springfield recruits reported in 
Holyoke where officers for the composite company were 
elected, resulting in the elevation to the captaincy of J. H. 
Clifford, Holyoke, and the four lieutenants were J. K. Newell, 
Springfield, J. P. Brooks, Holyoke; J. H. Bennett, West 
Springfield; J. H. Halsted, Holyoke, in order. The two 
towns presented their respective officers with swords and 
complete equipments and every enlisted man with a service- 
able uniform after the pattern of that worn by the City 
Guard, while the ladies busied themselves in making flannel 
shirts and drawers for the men in camp. To Capt. Clifford was 
given a fine watch besides. June 14th, the Company joined 
the other organizations already gathered on Hampden Park. 

June 23rd, Sunday, the men marched from their quarters 
across the river to the First Congregational church, West 
Springfield, where the Rev. Mr. Powers preached an impressive 
discourse for the especial good of his listeners, in conclusion 
wishing them a hearty God-speed and assuring them of the 
aid and sympathy of ail good citizens. At the end of the ser- 
vices, every man was presented with a Testament and a utility 
bag, such as soldiers in the war period so generally carried. 

(For full explanation of abbreviations, see page 332.) 

COMMISSIONED OFFICERS 

CAPTAINS 

John H. Clifford, b. Pittsfield, N. H.; 39, M.; mechanic, 
Holyoke; June 21, '61; res. Nov. 5, '61; later, Aug. 4, 



Company I 485 

'62, en. Co. D, 34th Mass.; M. O. as Sergt., June 16, '65; 
in 1875, Holyoke. 

Joseph K. Newell; Nov. 6, '61; cashiered, Nov. 25, '62; 
(letter A. G. O., Washington, Dec. 10, '62); disa., result- 
ing from dis., removed by the President and the Gov, 
of Mass. was authorized to recommission him, (see Letter 
War Dep't., June 24, '68, on file. State House, Boston); 
in 1875, in mercantile firm of T. M. Walker & Co., Spring- 
field. 

Frederick Barton, from Co. E; on detached service till M. O., 
July 1, '64; in 1908, Inspector, Adams Express Co., 
Boston. 



FIRST LIEUTENANTS 

Joseph K. Newell, b. Enfield; 23, S.; merchant, Springfield; 
June 21, '61; after arrival in Washington, served as 
regimental Q. M. until prom. Captain. 

Joseph H. Bennett; Nov. 6, '61; dismissed Nov. 25, '62; in 
1875, Chicopee Falls. 

Wm. Arthur Ashley; Nov. 3, '62; though suffering from ill 
health, he insisted on retaining his position and fell at 
the head of his Company, May 5, '64, in the Wilderness. 

SECOND LIEUTENANTS 

Joseph H. Bennett, b. Canada; 30, S.; manufacturer, West 
Springfield; June 21, '61; prom. First Lieut. 

Homer G. Gilmore, from 1st Serg't. (F) ; Nov. 6, '61; prom. 
1st. Lieut. (F). 

Wm. Arthur Ashley ; from First Sergt.; Sept. 8, '62; prom. 
First Lieut. 

William F. Darby; from Sergt., Co. B; Nov. 26, '62; for some 
time acted as Captain of the Company; wd. arm, May 3, 
'63, Salem Heights, also, hip, Wilderness; was constantly 
with the Company till after Cold Harbor, June, '64, 
when he was sent to the hosp. at White House Landing 
and later to General Hosp., Washington, whence he was 
dis., June 25, '64, reporting in Springfield for M. 0. with 
Reg't., July 1, '64; since the war has been a member of 
the firm of Burlingame and Darbys, North Adams; is a 



480 



Thk Tkxth Massachisetts In 1 a NT in 




CORP. M. V. CARD, LIEUT. C. H. KNAPP (A), J. A. DECKER. 

charter member of Sanford Post No. 79, G. A. R. ; Rep- 
resentative in Legislature, 187U, '73 and '79; three years 
on RepubHcan State Central Committee; was Postmaster 
under President Harrison, was reappointed by President 
McKinley, and is now P. M.. North Adams; is Pres. of 
the Berkshire Co. Cooperative Bank, and of the Burlin- 
game and Darbys Co., incorporated. 



NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS AND PRnWTES 

Allen, Charles E., b. West Springfield; 19, S.; farmer, West 
Springfield; June 21, '61, M. O. Julv 1, '64; d. Soldiers' 
Home, 1908. 

Ash, Patrick, (R), b. Ireland; 18, S. ; laborer, Springfield; 
Sept. 6, '61; trans. June 20, '64, o7th Mass.; wd. Aug, 
29, '64, Charlestown, W. Va. ; dis. Sept. 9, '64, ex. of s.; 
in 1875, laborer, Mittineague. 

Ashlev, Henrv B., (R), b. West Springfield; 34, — ; machin- 
ist, Springfield; Aug. 1, '62; M. O. July 1, '64. 

Ashlev, Wm. Arthur, (Sergt.), b. West Springfield; butcher. 
West Springfield; June 21, '61; First Sergt., Mar. 1. '62; 
prom. Second Lieut. 

Atkins, Wm. H., (R), b. West Granville; 21, — ; farmer, 
Washington, D. C. ; Dec. 10, '61; that he might enlist 
with old friends, he walked to Springfield, paid his own 
expenses to Washington, and was there enrolled in the 
Company; wd. July 1, '62, captured and taken to Rich- 
mond; thence he was finally sent to Philadelphia, where 
he d. Aug. 12. '62 from a second amputation, being unable 



Company I -187 

to rail}' from the shock. The following letter is an inter- 
esting reminder of the young man and his sufferings. 

Sixth and Master Streets, U. S. General Hospital 

Philadelphia, August 1, 18G2. 
Dear Captain: — I have finally arrived at a home of safety, 
after a long imprisonment in Richniond. Lieutenant Gilmore 
was at m}^ side when I was shot, and I told him that I thought 
I could get to the rear alone. I made slow progress, as my 
leg was broken. After a while I was helped along, and was 
carried and left by the side of the road, in expectation that our 
ambulances would be along and pick me up. None came, and 
I lay on the bank that night ; when I awoke in the morning, a 
man had died in reach of me, his eyes unshut. It commenced 
to rain, quite hard; I could get no one to assist me, and I 
could not stay in such a place, where the dead (there were 
three or four near me) made such an impression on my mind. 
I hobbled away, on my hands and one leg, to a wheat field, 
when I covered myself up with straw and cared but little what 
became of me. Secesh came along pretty soon, and said I would 
be taken in after a while, but I spent another night out of doors, 
and was then carried in. I was joyfully surprised to see Dr. 
Jewett, of the Tenth. He assisted a rebel surgeon to amputate 
my leg. The next day after, I was taken to Richmond, in one 
of the government wagons, and soon introduced to the luxuries 
of the famous Richmond tobacco warehouses. We had plenty 
of good water and air, but little medicine, or rags to dress our 
wounds ; I cannot describe our sufferings. Half rations of good 
bread and boiled meat were given us, with no salt. I wish, 
Captain, that you would send any letters, that you may have 
for me, and give me a list of the killed and wounded in the 
Regiment, as I have heard only partially. I suppose Major 
Miller was wounded severely. If you think best, I wish you 
would send me my descriptive list. I have written this on my 
back, which ivill account for its funny appearance. 

Yours truly, William H. Atkins. 

Atkinson, Wm., (R), b. England; 25, — ; mechanic, Spring- 
field; Sept. 9, '61; trans. June 20, '64, 37th Mass.; M. O. 
June 20, '64; dis. Sept. 10, '64, ex. of s. 

Bagg, Charles H., b. West Springfield; 19, S. ; farmer, West 
Springfield; June 21, '61; on reaching Brightwood. he 
became speechless, called by the doctors aphoma; no 
effort or ruse could detect any simulation, hence his dis. 



488 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

Dec. 4, '61, disa. ; on reaching home, however, his voice 
came back to him ; in 1875, employ of B. & A. R. R., West 
Springfield. 

Baldwin, James, b. Scotland; 20, S.; paper maker, Holyoke; 
June 14, '61; wd. as Corp., Wilderness, and d. of same, 
June 13, '64. 

Barnes, Albert, b. Palmer; 24, M.; machinist. West Spring- 
field; June 14, '61; dis. Sept. 11, '61, disa.; in 1872, 
painter, Springfield; d. May 20, 1900, N. S. H., Togus, Me. 

Barry, John, b. Greenbush, N. Y.; 19, S.; manufacturer, 
Holyoke; June 14, '61; wd. leg, Fair Oaks; k. May 3, 
'63, Salem Heights. 

Bean, Hibbard K., b. Lisbon, N. H.; 26, M.; machinist, 
Holyoke; June 14, '61; Corp., Dec. 14, '61; k. May 31, 
'62, Fair Oaks. 

Best, Robert, Jr., b. England; 20, S.; mechanic. West Spring- 
field; June 14, '61; wd. hand, Fair Oaks; wd. and cap- 
tured. May 18, '64, Spottsylvania; d. Florence, S. C., 
Sept., '64, in the enemy's hands. 

Boyington, Hubert J., b. Southwick; 27, S.; wire drawer, 

Holyoke; June 14, '61; k. May 3, '63, Salem Heights; 

State rolls give name "Herbert J. Boynton." 
Bradford, Alvin F., b. Florida; 34, — ; mechanic, Holyoke; 

June 14, '61; dis. Nov. 30, '62, also found "Mar. 30," 

disa.; later in Co. D. 27th Mass. 

Bradley, Wm. H., (R), b. Kingston, N. Y.; 18, S.; farmer. 
Great Barrington; Feb. 12, '62; dis. Jan. 3, '63, disa. 

Brady, Sylvanus H., (Wagoner), b. Oswego, N. Y.; 35, M.; 
printer, Holyoke; June 14, '61; had served in U. S. 
Gov't, employ, before the war as wagon master on the 
plains, serving in same capacity during his brief stay 
in the Tenth; dis. Oct. 4, '61, disa.; in 1875, Holyoke. 

Brick, Edward, b. Ireland; 18, S.; laborer. South Hadley; 

June 14, '61; wd. chance shot, night before Malvern Hill; 

dis. Dec. 3, '62, disa.; State rolls carry name as "Buck." 
Brick, Maurice, b. Ireland; 20, M.; laborer. South Hadley, 

June 21, '61; desert. Dec. 9, '62; captured at his Mass. 

home and taken to Boston for trial, to escape which, en. 

11th Regulars, became Corp. and again desert. State 

rolls carry name as "Buck." 

Brooks, James P., (Sergt.), b. Newmarket, N. H.; 23, S.; 



Company- I 489 

molder, Holyoke; June 14, '61; in the militia formation 
he was Second Lieut., but in the muster-in, he was sup- 
planted by the Third Lieut., whereupon he immediately 
took off his sash and sword, shouldered a musket, saying, 
"I enhsted to fight not for office." His Holyoke friends 
in token of their admiration for his grit and determina- 
tion, presented him with a very fine gold watch engraved 
with the foregoing words. When Colonel Briggs heard of 
the action of the soldier he appointed him as Color-Sergt., 
a post of honor; soon after Gov. Andrew trans, him to 
recruiting service in Mass. ; Nov. 30, '61, he was appointed 
Second Lieut., Co. C, 6th N. H. ; First Lieut., April 29, '62; 
dis. on account of wds. Oct. 31, '62; April 6, '64, en. Co. K, 
57th Mass. ; d. from wds. July 14, '64, Alexandria, Va. 

Brown, Thomas, b. Scotland; 27, M.; manufacturer, Pitts- 
field; Feb. 27, '62; after Antietam, on the march to 
WilHamsport, Md., while the men were lying along the 
road, awaiting orders, some frightened horses came 
running down the road and one of them drove the calk 
of his shoe into the skull of Brown, the doctors pronounc- 
ing the injury fatal ; a piece of his skull was removed and 
he was sent to the hosp., where he recovered enough to 
do light work; dis. Mar. 13, '63; the date is also given 
"Sept. 12, '62," manifestly an absurdity since that was 
before he was hurt ; in 1864, Pittsfield. 

Bugbee, Smith A., b. West Suffield, Conn.; 22, S.; car man, 
West Springfield; May — , '61; wd. Fair Oaks, left lung; 
dis. Sept. 30, '62, disa. ; in 1875, Holyoke; rep. dead, 1905. 

Burnham, George, (Mus.); 28, S.; drummer, Holyoke; June 
21, '61; M. 0. July 1, '64; d. 1908, Holyoke. 

Burr James W., b. Wilbraham; 23, M.; paper maker, Hol- 
yoke; June 14, '61; d. Sept. 10, '61, Brightwood, D. C; 
the whole Reg't. participated in funeral, next day, after 
which the body, embalmed, was sent home to Holyoke. 

Cahill, Francis H., b. New York City; 21, S.; weaver, West 
Springfield; June 14, '61; wd. both legs, Wilderness; 
M. O. as Corp., July 1, '64; in 1875, Sprmgfield; rep. 
dead, Nov. 1903. 

Caine, Anthony, b. Ireland; 18, S.; paper maker Holyoke ; 
Tune 14 '61; d. May 15, '63, Washington, from wds. 
received' at Salem Heights, May 3, '64. State rolls give 
"Cane." 



490 



Thk. Tkxtii Massachusetts Ixfaxti 




C. W. COCHRANE, 



SERG'T. J. 



WALKER 



GEO. CONNER. 



Card, Martin V., b. New Ashford; 21, S.; manufacturer, 
Williamstown; June 14, '61; wd. May 5, '64, Wilderness, 
ankle; M. O. as Corp., July 1, '64; overseer, Phoenix 
cotton mill. North Adams from 1866 to '72; on fann 
Morrison, 111., until 1892; in 1909, Morrison. 

Casey, John E., b. Boston; 18, S.; plumber, Springfield 
June 14, '61; wd. Salem Heights; k. May 5, '64, Wilder- 
ness. State House rolls say "May 15." 

Casev, Maurice, (R) ; 25, S.; manufacturer, Dalton; Feb. 
25, '62; dis. May 2, '62, disa. 

Clark, Enoch, b. Pittsfield; 39, M.; machinist. West Spring- 
field; June 14, '61; wd. head, May 4, '64, Wilderness; 
M. O. July 1, '64; in 1873, machinist, Hinsdale. 

Cochrane, Charles W., b. Scotland; 34, M.; machinist, Hol- 
voke; June 14, '61; re. Dec. 21, '63; trans. June 20, '64, 
37th Mass.; dis. June 17, '65, O. W. D.; d. 1875, Holyoke. 

Conner, George, b. Charlton; 28, M.; driver, Holyoke; June 



Company I 4,01 

14, '61; wd. Fair Oaks, a bullet, entering his abdomen, 
passed out at his back; the surgeon said he must die, but 
Conner declared he couldn't and he didn't; after several 
months of hosp., he came back to the Reg't. ; but did not 
wear his belt; his labor thereafter was very light, princi- 
pally about the culinary dep't.; M. O. July 1, '64; in 
1870, oil regions of Pa. 
Converse, Henry M., b. Chester; 28, M.; printer, Holyoke; 
June 21, '61; Corp., Mar. 8, '62; Sergt., Aug. 15, '62; 
detailed for recruiting service, Aug. 13, '62; stationed in 
Springfield, West Cambridge and Fort Independence, 
Boston Harbor; returned to Reg't., Feb. 14, '63; First 
Sergt., April 6, '64; wd. side, Spottsylvania; M. O. 
July 1, '64; since muster-out, newspaper editor in 
Northampton, Easthampton and Warren; in 1908, 
, Warren. 

Cook, Austin S., b. Amherst; 20, S.; farmer, Amherst; April 
22, '61, the eighth Springfield man to be enrolled; trans. 
Nov. 11, '62, Battery G, 2nd U. S. Artillerv; in 1869, 
employ of N. H. & N. R. R. 

Corkery, Michael B., b. Ireland; 22, S.; manufacturer, West 
Springfield; June 21, '61; wd. May 5, '64, Wilderness; 
dis. July 29, '64, being absent at regimental muster- 
out; in 1869, cotton spinner. West Springfield. 

Crockett, Frederick H., (R), b. Middletown, Conn.; 27, S.; 
merchant, Northampton; Oct. 14, '62; wd. hand. May 
3, '63, Salem Heights; dis. Aug. 14, '63, disa. 

Cromwell, Luther F., b. Preston, Conn. ; 30, M. ; manufacturer. 
West Springfield; June 21, '61; dis. Jan. 1, '63, disa.; 
in 1875, Fall River. 

Cronin, Daniel, (R), b. Ireland; 20, S.; mechanic, Holvoke. 
Jan. 11, '64; trans. June 20, '64, 37th Mass.; k. Sept; 
19, '64, Winchester. 

Dailey, James N., b. Boston; 37, S.; carpenter, Holvoke; 
June 21, '61; dis. Mar. 1, '62, disa. 

Deady, Edward, (R), b. Ireland; 35, M.; laborer. Belcher- 
town; cr. Worcester; Dec. 10, '63; trans. June 20, '64, 
37th Mass.; trans. June 21, '65, 20th Mass.; M. 0. July 
16, '65. 

Decie, Charles H., b. Ireland; IS, S.; weaver, Holyoke; 
June 21, '61; wd. head, Malvern Hill; leg, Salem Heights; 
hand. Wilderness; M. O. July 1, '64; 1909, Newburyport. 



492 The Tenth Massachusetts Inf.vxtry 

Decker, John A., b. Ancram, N. Y.; 24, S.; paper maker, 
West Springfield; June 14, '61; dis. Jan. 14, '62, disa.; 
for last fifteen years in Maine; in paper business, banking 
and real estate; Pres. Rumford Falls National Bank and 
Pres. Dixfield Light and Water Co.; Representative, 
State Legislature, 1907; residence, Dixfield. 

Desmond, Richard, b. Ireland; 22, S.; shoemaker, West 
Springfield; June 14, '61; M. 0. July 1, '64. 

Dory, George W., b. West Haven, Conn.; 18, S.; weaver, 
West Springfield; June 14, '61; trans. Nov. 8, '63, Bat- 
tery G, 2nd U. S. Artillery; served through the war; in 
1872, oyster trade, Fair Haven, Conn.; claims to have 
captured at Malvern Hill a N. C. flag, for which no credit 
has been given; in 1907, New Haven, Conn. 

Eaton, Wm. H., b. Springfield; 24, S.; mechanic, Holyoke; 
June 21, '61; dis. Oct. 8, '61, disa.; in 1872, Holyoke. 

Edwards, Wm. B., b. North Stonington, Conn.; 26, — ; 

, Springfield; Sept. 6, '61; wd. ankle. Fair Oaks; 

dis. Aug. 6, '62. disa.; in 1872, cotton spinner. Deep 
River, Conn. ; in 1908, Chicopee. 

Estes, Wm. H., b. Chicopee; 20, S.; painter, Holyoke; June 
14, '61; k. May 31, '62, Fair Oaks. 

Talvey, John, b. Ireland; 18, S.; laborer, Holyoke; June 14, 
'61; on the visit of the allotment commission, he made 
over to the State Treasury in Boston, all of his wages, 
except one dollar per month, the remainder to remain on 
interest until his discharge; upon the arrival of the Reg't. 
at Warwick Court House, he fell ill of fever, d. May 1, '62, 
and was bur. near the center of the village; he left no 
relatives in this country. 

Ferry, Henry L., b. Easthampton; 18, S.; broom maker, 
Easthampton; June 14, '61; dis. Nov. 14, '62, disa.; 
Jan. 13, '65, en. Co. C, 31st Mass.; M. 0. Sept. 9, '65; in 
1907, N. S. H., Togus, Me. 

Flanagan, Patrick, b. Ireland; 25, S.; laborer, Springfield; 
June 21, '61; desert. July 17, '61; Dec. 14, '61, en. Co. F, 
16th Mass.; dis. from the 16th for disa., Aug. 12, '63. 

Frisbie, Cassander, b. New York City; 22, S.; mechanic. 
West Springfield; June 21, '61; d. July 12, '62, McKim's 
Hosp., Baltimore, Md. State rolls say "Annapolis." 

Geary, H. L., (R), N. F. R., save, "dis. Dec. 6, '62, disa., 
Alexandria, Va." 



Company I 493 

Halsted, John H., (Sergt.), b. Ramapo, N. Y.; 26, M.; manu- 
facturer, South Hadley; June 21, '61; in the militia 
organization was Fourth Lieut.; dis. Aug. 19, '62, disa.; 
d. May 31, 1903, Togus, Me. 

Harger, George S., b. West Granville; 20, S.; farmer, Gran- 
ville; April 26, '61; wd. right shoulder. Fair Oaks; 
wd. thigh, Spottsylvania, and captured, lying two days 
and nights upon the field; a prisoner in Orange Court 
House, Gordonsville, Trevellion Station, and Richmond, 
being in six different prisons before his trip down the 
James, Feb. 18, '65, to freedom; June 24, '65, was re- 
captured by Sheridan but, owing to wds., could not be 
removed; when he did start for liberty, it was in the 
arms of a stalwart comrade who carried him out bodily, 
clothed in rags indescribable; M. O. April 14, '65; in 
1875, dealer in hay and straw. East Chatham, N. Y., 
apparently in excellent health; said to have been killed 
at Ayer by R. R. train. 

Harris, Charles F., Jr., (R), b. Vernon, Vt.; 18, S.; farmer, 
Pittsfield; Mar. 7, '62; d. Sept. 17, '62, Newport News. 
Newell says "Chas. 5." 

Hartwell, Charles L., (R), b. Conway; 18, S.; farmer, Spring- 
field; Sept. 12, '61; wd. arm. Fair Oaks and breast, 
Salem Heights; wd. head and shoulder. May 7, '64, Wil- 
derness; trans. June 20, '64, 37th Mass.; dis. Sept. 11, '64, 
ex. of s.; in 1871, Springfield; d. Oct. 7, 1908, Amherst. 

Hayes, James, b. England; 19, S.; manufacturer. South 
Hadley; June 14, '61; re. Dec. 21, '63, cr. Agawam; 
trans. June 20, '64, 37th Mass.; trans. June 21, '65, 20th 
Mass.; M. O. July 16, '65; in 1907, N. S. H., Togus, Me. 

Healy, Michael F., b. Ireland; 19, S.; carder, West Spring- 
field; April, '61; Corp., June 19, '62; wd. Malvern Hill; 
dis. Mar. 4, '64, disa.; re. Dec. 14, '64, Co. K, 37th Mass.; 
trans. June 21, '65, 20th Mass.; M. O. July 16, '65; in 
1875, carriage painter. North Adams. 

Henry, Albert F., b. Troy, N. Y.; 20, S.; clerk, Holyoke; 

May 31, '61; dis. Dec. 14, '61, disa. 
Heyward, Jerome, (Corp.), b. Washington; 42, M.; gas 

maker, West Springfield; June 21, '61; M. O. July 1, '64; 

d. Jan. 27, '69, Holyoke; bur. West Springfield. Newell 

spells the name " Haywavd." 



494 



The Tenth Massachusetts Infaxtkv 



Hovey, Charles E., b. North Oxford; 18, S.; envelope maker, 

Holyoke; May 31, '61; wd. neck, Fair Oaks; k. May 3, 

'63, Salem Heights. 
Huot, Peter, (R), b. Canada; 34, M.; laborer, Holvoke; Dec. 

10, '63; trans. June 20, '64, 37th Mass.; trans. June 21, 

'65, 20th Mass. ; dis. July 16, '65. 
Hyde, James H., b. South Lee; 22, M.; paper maker, West 

Springfield; June 21, '61; M. O. July 1, '64; in 1869. 

paper maker. West Springfield; rep. dead, 1905. 
Hyde, Philip, b. South Lee; 18, S.; paper maker, West 

Springfield; June 21, '61; Corp., Mar. 1, '62; wd. and 

lost sight of left eye, Fair Oaks; Sergt., Sept. 8, '62; 

wd. left knee, Salem Heights; wd. in groin and head, 

Spottsylvania,; M. O. July 1, '64; Jan. 21, '65, com. 

Captain of militia company, 219th Dist.; in 1907, South 

Hadley Falls. 

Jones, Wm. S., b. South Trenton, N. Y. ; 29, M.; carpenter, 
West Springfield; June 21, '61; wd. foot, Spottsylvania; 
M. O. July 1, '64; in 1875, editor of paper, Scranton, Pa. 

Judd, Dwight 0.,b. Huntsburg, Ohio; 
18, S.; farmer, Holyoke; May, 
'61; wd. left breast, Fair Oaks; 
wd. right groin, thigh bone brok- 
en, Salem Heights; detailed, 
Sept. 4, '63, Div. provost guard, 
and sent on guard duty to San- 
dusky, Ohio, Sept. 25, remaining 
w4th guard till Jan. 3, '64; wd. 
left hand, losing little finger. 
Wilderness, May 5, '64; M. O. 
Julv 1, '64; in '67, he organized 
Co. G, 2nd Reg't. M. V. M. 
being connected with that and 
with Co. D of Holyoke till 1881, 
when he resigned the captaincy 
of the latter; was an Odd Fellow and 32nd degree 
Mason; had been a member of Post 16, G. A. R., Spring- 
field, and had commanded Kilpatrick Post, Holyoke; 
had served on the staff of the Commander in Chief and, 
in 1903, commanded the Dep't. of Mass.; in 18S1, was a 
member of Common Council, Holyoke, had served on 
Board of Assessors and, in 1887, represented his district 
in lower branch of the Legislature; was many vears in 




DWIGHT O. JUDD. 



Company I 495 

the insurance and real estate business, also Secretary 
and Treasurer of the Holyoke Cooperative Bank; d. 
Nov. 25, 1906, Holyoke. 

Justin, James M., b. West Granville; 20, S.; farmer, West 
Springfield; May 31, '61; wd. right hip. Fair Oaks; 
Com. as Capt., 46th Mass., Oct. 15, '62; M. O. July 29, 
'63; in 1873, car repairer, B. & A. R. R., Hinsdale. 

Justin, Jas. or Jos.; N. F. R. save "d. Dec. 9, '62, Belle 
Plain;" possibly the same as preceding. 

Kellv, John H., b. Ramapo, N. Y.; 21, S.; plater, Holyoke; 
May 31, '61; dis. Nov. 28, '62, disa.; served in Q. M. 
Dep't., three months from Sept. 1, '64; in 1872, fruit 
and produce dealer, Newark, N. J. 

Kelly, Joseph, b. Ireland; 19, S.; machinist, Holyoke; 
May 31, '61; foot badly jammed in McClellan's change 
of base on the James; wd. arm, Wilderness; M. O. July 
1, '64; in 1872, said to be in Holyoke; d. May 20, 1890, 
N. S. H., Milwaukee, Wis. 

Kilroy, James, (R), b. Boston; 18, S.; farmer, Leverett; 
Sept. 7, '61; re. Dec. 21, '63, 37th Mass.; trans. June 21, 
'65, 20th Mass.; M. O. July 16, '65; afterwards in regular 
army. 

Knapp, Charles H., (Corp.), b. Northampton; 24, S.; machin- 
ist, Springfield; June 21, '61; Sergt., '61; wd. wrist, 
July 1, '62, Malvern Hill; First Sergt., Sept., '62; prom. 
Second Lieut., Co. A. 

Kneeland, Edward S., (Wagoner), b. Northampton; 25, S.; 
teamster, Springfield; June 21, '61; when the wagon 
train was turned over to Q. M. Dep't., he went with his 
wagon, and did not return to the Reg't.; being an en- 
Hsted man, he was entered as a deserter, Jan. 16, '62; 
on Aug. 20, '62, he enHsted in Co. F., 1st Mass. Cav.; 
re. Dec. 20, '63; dis. June 26, '65. 

Knights, Henrv, b. England; 28, M.; manufacturer. West 
Springfield'; Mav 31, '61; wd. hand, Gettysburg; M. 0. 
July 1, '64; re. Sept. 3, '64, 2nd Mass. Heavy Artillery; 
M. O. June 26, '65. 

Knox, James, (Corp.), b. Scotland; 24, S.; machinist, Spring- 
field; May 6, '61; Sergt., Mar. 5, '62; Color-Sergt., 
Fair Oaks' and Malvern Hill; prom. Second Lieut, to 
date from June 1, '62, Co. A. on account of bravery on 
the field. 



496 The Tenth ^Massachusetts Ixfan"try 

Lamb, Wilbur F., b. Newburyport; 19, S.; manufacturer, 

Holyoke; May 31, '61; after Fredericksburg, was sent 

to the Convalescent Camp and Oct. 22, '63, was trans. 

10th Co., 1st Battalion, V. R. C; dis. June 21, '64, ex. 

of s.; in 1908, No. 625 Winter st., Woonsocket, R. I. 
Lauder, John, (R), b. Scotland; 25, — ; • — , Washington, 

D. C; Aug. 14, '61; desert. Jan. 2, '62; State rolls give 

" Lander." 
Littlejohn, Otis H., (R); 19, S.; farmer, Montague; Aug. 9, 

'62; d. Feb. 3, '63, Falmouth, Va. 
Livingston, James, b. England; 27, M.; weaver, Springfield; 

Mav 31, '61; wd. ankle, Mav 31, '62, Fair Oaks; M. O. 

July 1, '64. 

Looinis, George, b. West Springfield; 19, S.; farmer, West 
Springfield; Mav 31, '61; dis. Dec. 8, '62, disa.; d. Nov. 
IS, 1882, West Springfield. 

Maguire, Joseph; 29, — ; , Holyoke; June 21, '61; 

d. Nov. 7, '63, Rappahannock Station, Va.; eivdently 
an error for Ungerer, which see. 

Newson, Wm. M., b. Geneva, N. Y.; 28, S.; carriage maker, 
Boston; June 21, '61; wd. knee, in front of Petersburg, 
just before discharge of Reg't.; M. O. July 1, '64; in 
1872, carriage business. Tiffin, Ohio. 

Newton, Frank O., (R), b. Bernardston; 21, — ; farmer, Gill; 
Aug. 29, '62; dis. Jan. 1, '63, disa. 

Nye, David B., b. Boscawen, N. H.; 18, S.; machinist, Hol- 
voke; Mav 31, '61; Corp., April 17. '63; wd. left thigh, 
Salem Heights; M. O. July 1, '64; in 1869, farmer, 
Northboro; 1909, Cambridgeport. 

Otis, Abner D., b. FrankHn, Conn.; 18, S.; machinist, Hol- 
yoke; Mav 31, '61; d. Armory Square Hosp., Washing- 
ton, Sept. '17, '63. 

Page, Henry A., b. Boxboro; 20, S.; merchant, Holvoke; 
June 21, '61; dis. Mar. 1, '62, disa.; d. Dec, 1898. ' 

Paull, Osmyn B., b. Shutesburv; 19, S.; carpenter, Holvoke; 
May 31, '61; Corp., Mar. i, '62; Sergt., June 1, '62; wd. 
left leg, Malvern Hill; carried to hosp., was capt. next 
day and taken to Richmond, on the 6th of July; ex- 
changed on the 22nd, was sent to Mill Creek Hosp., near 
Ft. Mom-oe, thence returned to Reg't.; after a furlough 
home, he came back to the 10th, May 17, '64, only to be 
killed the next day at Spottsylvania. 



Company' I 



497 




WM. H. ESTES, 8ERG'T. A. N. TRUDEAU, 

G. W. PEABODY, 
SERG'T. PHIL HYDE, 1ST. SERG'T. H. M. CONVERSE. 



Peabody, Gustavus W., b. West Springfield; 20, S.; machin- 
ist, Holvoke; June 21, '61; wd. right arm, Salem Heights, 
May 3, "'63; trans. Mar. 15, '64, 114th Co., 2nd Battalion, 
V. R. C; dis. June 21, '64, ex. of s.; in 1873, merchant, 
New Haven, Conn.; has been Selectman and J. P. for a 
number of years, Windham, Conn. ; 1909, Willimantic. 

Pettis, Amos, Jr., (Sergt.), b. Eaton, N. Y.; 30, M.; manu- 
facturer, Holyoke; May 31, '61; detailed Jan. 17, '62, on 
recruiting service in Mass., and was absent several months; 
k. as First Sergt,, May 3, '63, Salem Heights. 

Powers, Richard M., Jr., (R) ; 20, — ; farmer, Greenfield; 
Sept. 12, '61; dis. Oct. 7, '62, disa.; in 1909, farmer. 
North Brookfield. 

Read. Stephen W., b. Buffalo, N. Y.; IS, S.; blacksmith. 



498 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

Holyoke; May 31, '61; wd. leg, Salem Heights; re. Dec. 
21, '63; trans, as Corp., June 20, '64, 37th Mass.; trans. 
June 21, '65, 20th Mass.; M. O. July 16, '65. 

Riley, David, b. Ireland; 21, S.; manufacturer. West Spring- 
field; May 31, '61; wd. hand. Wilderness; M. O. July 1, 
'64; in 1875, Mittineague; d. West Springfield. 

Russell, Patrick, b. Ireland; 19, S.; glass blower, Holyoke; 
May 31, '61; re. Dec. 21, '63; State rolls say "Safeguard, 
never heard of since ;" Newell records that he was captured 
by the enemy while doing safeguard duty in Va., and 
for a long time was in Andersonville. After reaching 
home, his friends were surprised at his healthy appear- 
ance, so different from that of other prisoners. Confi- 
dentially, he informed them that he had found a cousin 
in the rebel guard who took good care of him. He was 
last seen going aboard a transport with a detachment 
of regular troops on their way to California. 

Scott, George M., b. Ludlow; 31, M.; blacksmith, Agawam; 
June 21, '61; re. Dec. 21, '63; trans. June 20, '64, 37th 
Mass. ; dis. Mav 26, '65, disa. ; d. Dec. 10, 1889, Feeding 
Hills. 

Seifert, Augustus, b. Germany; 19, S.; weaver, Holyoke; 
May 31, '61; sunstruck on march from Kalorama to 
Brightwood and was unfit for regular dutv thereafter; 
dis. Dec. 27, '62, disa. 

Shay, Daniel D., b. Chicopee; 19, S.; stabler, Holvoke; 
May 31, '61; k. May 31, '62, Fair Oaks. Newell spells 
the name "Shea." 

Shea, Peter, b. Maine; 19, S.; farmer, West Springfield; 
May 12, '61; trans. 1st Reg't. V. R. C, Mar. 15, '64; 
Sergt., Aug. 14, '64; in 1869, gas fitter, Chicopee. State 
rolls say "Shay;" 1909, Chicopee Falls. 

Smith, Alexander C, (Corp.), b. Catskill, N. Y.; 23, S.; 
clerk. West Springfield; June 21, '61; wd. leg, broken 
below knee. Fair Oaks; dis. Nov. 30, '62, disa.; in 1875, 
Springfield. 

Smith, Algernon S., b. West Springfield; 27, S. ; farmer, 
West Springfield; Mav 31, '61; M. O. July 1, '64; in 
1875, farmer, West Springfield; d. S. H., April 12, 1903. 

Smith, Edward P., b. South Hadley Falls; 23, S.; farmer, 
Agawam; May 31, '61; wd. arm, Spottsylvania ; M. O. 



Company I 499 

July 1, '64; later in 61st Mass., serving at City Point in 
the engineer corps; in 1869, cigar business, Feeding Hills. 

Smith, Hanniel P., (Corp.); 21, S.; mechanic, Holyoke; 
June 14, '61 ; wd. shoulder. Fair Oaks, and hand, Spottsyl- 
vania; M. 0. July 1, '64; in 1869, dentist, Meredith, N. H. 
State rolls give "Hammel." 

Smith, Luther, (R), b. Shelburne; 19, S.; mechanic, Spring- 
field; Sept. 6, '61; trans. June 20, '64, 37th Mass.; dis. 
Sept. 7, '64, ex. of s. 

Smith, Simeon P., b. Meredith, N. H.; 20, S.; mechanic, 
Holyoke; June 21, '61; though deafness would have 
shielded him from compulsory service, he was bound to 
enlist and proved a good soldier; k. Nov. 7, '63, Rappa- 
hannock Station. 

Smith, Wm. E., b. Pittsfield; 41, M.; cook. West Springfield; 
June 21, '61; dis. Oct. 19, '61, disa.; in 1875, Springfield. 

Smith, Wm. H., b. West Springfield; 19, S.; farmer. West 
Springfield; June 21, '61; wd. May 31, '62, Fair Oaks; 
trans. Battery G, 2nd U. S. Artillery, Nov. 8, '62; went 
to California with his battery after the war. 

Smith, Wm. S., b. Fitchburg; 18, S.; fisherman. West Spring- 
field; June 21, '61; desert. Nov. 24, '61. 

Snow, John E., b. South Hadley; 18, S.; mechanic. South 
Hadley; June 21, '61; dis. Feb. 6, '63, disa. 

Squires, John C, b. Bloomfield, Pa.; 19, S.; molder, Spring- 
field; June 21, '61; d. Sept. 13, '61, Washington; bur. 
west end of camp ground, Brightwood. 

Stewart, Robert J., b. Ireland; 21, S.; mechanic, Holyoke; 
June 21, '61; k. May 31, '62, Fair Oaks. 

Sullivan, Jeremiah, b. Roxbury; 19, S.; farmer, West Spring- 
field; June 21, '61; d. Sept. 24, '61, Washington. 

Sullivan, John, b. Ireland; 18, S.; operative, Holyoke; 
June 21, '61; M. O. July 1, '64; d. N. S. H., Dayton, 
Ohio, April 24, 1898. 

Sullivan, Michael, b. Ireland; 18, S.; operative. West Spring- 
field; June 21, '61; dis. Aug. 19, '61, disa. 

Tanner, Wm. N., (R), b. Greenfield; 33, — ; teamster, Med- 
ford; July 23, '61; detailed as teamster, when his wagon 
was turned over to the Q. M. Dep't., he went with it and 
did not return; desert. Jan. 16, '62. 



500 Thk Tenth Massachusetts Ixf.yktry 

Tobin, John, Jr., (R), b. England; 19, S.; machinist, North- 
ampton; Sept. 10, '61; desert. Aug. 13, '62; in 1872, 
Northampton. 

Tower, Charles F., b. Florida; 23, S.; butcher, Holyoke; 
June 21, '61; Corp., July, '61; wd. Salem Heights; dis. 
on account of wds., Aug. 8, '63; in 1908, manufacturer. 
North Adams. 

Trudeau, A. Napoleon, b. Canada; 23, S.; jeweller, Springfield; 
June 21, '61; Corp., June 1, '62; wd. Fair Oaks, Malvern 
Hill and Salem Heights; Sergt., May 5, '63; wd. Cold 
Harbor, June 3, '64, knocked senseless by cannon ball, 
thus being kept in hosp. till July 31, '64, when he came 
home; in 1875, jeweller, Springfield; has resided in 
Providence, R. I., since 1876; (300 Point St.). 

Ungerer, Joseph, b. West Point, N. Y.; 22, S.; miller. West 
Springfield; June 21, '61; d. Dec. 10, '63, of wds. rec'd. 
at Rappahannock Station; the son of a Waterloo veteran, 
the young man had unusual bodily vigor, apparently 
insensible to fatigue; at Brightwood, in some of the 
coldest nights when his Company was on duty, he had 
been known to throw himself on the ground and sleep 
without covering of any kind; his body is bur. in West 
Springfield. 

Vaille, Virgil L., b. New Marlboro; 28, M.; farmer. West 
Springfield; June 21, '61; desert, from Harewood Hosp., 
Washington; the time is variously given, varying from 
Sept. 30, '62, to Aug. '63; he has never been heard from. 

Walcott, James M., (Wagoner), b. New York City; 28, S.; 
teamster, Springfield; June 21, '61; M. O. July 1, '64; 
k. on the railroad since the war. Newell cpells " Wolcott." 

Walker, John R., b. New York City; 37, M.; machinist, 
Holyoke; June 21, '61; wd. as Sergt., thigh, Spottsyl- 
vania; d. of wds., Aug. 29, '64, Portsmouth Grove Hosp., 
R. I.; bur. Springfield. 

Ward, Ansel H., (First Sergt.), b. Goshen; 23, S.; painter, 
West Springfield; June 21, '61; M. O. July 1, '64; has 
represented West Springfield in the Legislature; in 1875, 
house painter, Mittineague; in 1908, U. S. Arsenal. 
Springfield. 

Willey, Leander F., b. Chicopee; 19, S.; butcher, Springfield; 
June 21, '61; dis. Nov. 14, '62, disa.; re. Jan. 27, '64, 
Co. G, 4th Mass. Cav.; dis. Nov. 14, '65. 



Company K 



501 




GEO. LOOMIS. 



W. R. WORTHINGTON, 



GEO. W. DORY. 



Winn, Jos. Albert, b. Chicopee; 23, S.; gunsmith, Chicopee; 
June 21, '61; detailed in western gun boat service, Feb. 
16, '62; desert. July 12, '62; later in Co. D, 34th Mass., 
became First Sergt., and lost an arm at Winchester; 
dis. on account of wds., Feb. 13, '65. 

Worthington, Wm. R., (R), b. Newfane, Vt. ; 25, M. ; armorer, 
Springfield; Aug. 23, '62; wd. right hand. Wilderness; 
M. O. July 1, '64; in 1869, overseer, cotton mill, North 
Bennington, Vt.; has been village trustee, school com- 
mittee and selectman for varying periods from 1902 to 
the present; in 1908, North Bennington, Vt. 



COMPANY K, WESTFIELD 

This beautiful township of the plains was early alive to the 
needs of the hour and April 20, '61, the town hall was crowded 
with an enthusiastic mass of humanity, all intent on the 
country's needs. Hiram Harrison presided, J. M. Ely, Thomas 
Kneil and Jos. Arnold were Vice-Presidents, with Samuel 
Dow, Secretary. Thoroughly patriotic and eloquent speeches 
were made and a large committee appointed to secure sub- 
scriptions and to notify the selectmen of the public desire 
that a town meeting be called the following Monday to see 
what action the town would take. L. B. Walkley, A. Camp- 
bell and Rufus Noble were made recruiting officers to secure 
able-bodied men to enhst, forty-six names being registered 
that evening. 

The town meeting was held on the 29th, when it was voted 
to raise $10,000 for the equipping of the Company and the 
care of families. The town finance committee to take charge 
of the funds raised by the town consisted of Laflin Cutler, 



502 The Tenth M.vssachusetts Infantry 

R. Noble and Samuel Fowler. May 4th, the Company having 
acquired the requisite number, organized by electing L. B. 
Walkley, Captain; Pliny Wood, David M. Chase, Edwin T. 
Johnson and Albion W. Lewis, Lieutenants, in the First, 
Second, Third, and Fourth order. Ten days later, the Rough 
and Ready Engine Company gave the Company a compli- 
mentary supper at the Foster House, where speeches were in 
order from many sources, including Postmaster Noble, Lieu- 
tenants Chase and Johnson. All this time the ladies of 
Westfield were emulating their sisters in other towns in the 
preparation of underwear, and other necessary articles for 
the soldiers. 

June 14th was conspicuous in town and Company annals 
in that then the soldiers departed for the general rendezvous 
in Springfield. The Rough and Ready was again in evidence, 
this time to see its friends off, an office divided with an 
organization of horsemen, commanded by Colonel Asa Barr. 
The departure was witnessed by nearly two thousand people 
who gathered upon the green to have a part in the leave-tak- 
ing. June 22d, under special permission, the boys came home 
for a brief visit, having been mustered into the U. S. service 
the day before. On the afternoon of Saturday, the 22d, the 
central green was again alive with people, this time to see 
the presentation of a sword to Captain Walkley by M. B. 
Whitney, Esq., both giver and receiver being alike happy in 
their remarks. Monday, the 24th, before returning to 
Hampden Park, Captain Walkley served a collation to the 
Company at his home. Those of Co. K who had worked in 
the Hampden Cigar Co. were given a sum of money by 
Messrs. Alonzo Whitney and Dudley N. Lane, $55.00 each, 
and $52.00 from remaining employees. 

(For full explanation of abbreviations, see page 332.) 

COMMISSIONED OFFICERS 

CAPTAINS 

Lucius B. Walkley, b. Westfield; 36, M.; deputy sheriff, 
Westfield; June 14, '61; on account of ill health, res. 
July 11, '62; in Nov., same year, 10th dav, com. Major, 
46th Mass.; prom. Lieut. Colonel, Feb. 5, '63; M. O. 
July 29, '63; in 1875, brick maker, mason and builder, 
Westfield; as a young man, Capt. Walkley had served 



Company K 503 

five years in the 3d U. S. Artillery, enlisting March 18, 
1840, and doing duty along the coast from New York 
to Florida. 
Edwin T. Johnson, July 12, '62; wd. May 12, '64, Spottsyl- 
vania; M. O. July 1, '64; in 1875, Sligo, Montgomery 
Co., Md. 

FIRST LIEUTENANTS 

David M. Chase, b. Cumberland, R. I.; 31, M.; cigar maker, 
Westfield; June 14, '61; had earlier held a com. as 
Second Lieut, in the militia; res. June 20, '62, disa., on 
account of lame ankle, broken before the war; in 1875, 
commercial traveller, Westfield. 

George W. Bigelow; Sept. 29, '62; from Co. F; prom. Capt., 
^ Co. F. 

Henry A. Brown, Jan. 25, '63; detailed as A. A. A. G., Dec. 
18, '63, headquarters, 2d Brigade, 3d Div., 6th Army 
Corps; on staff duty, remainder of service; M. O. 
July 1, '64; bvt. Capt., March 13, '65; in 1873, painter, 
Northampton; 1909, Delta, Ohio. 

Edward H. Graves, Sept. 23, '63; from Co. C; wd. Wilderness; 
M. O. July 1, '64. 

SECOND LIEUTENANTS 

Edwin T. Johnson, b. Wilhamsburg; 40, M.; organ pipe 
maker, Westfield; June 14, '61; prom. Capt., July 12, '62. 

Henry A. Brown, from Sergt., Co. C; Sept. 29, '62; prom. 
First Lieut. 

David M. Moore; from Corp., Nov. 27, '62; trans. June 20, '64, 
37th Mass.; dis. as supernumerary, July 1, '64. 

NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS AND PRIVATES 

Abrams, Thomas, b. Canada; 36, S.; bootmaker, Spencer; 
June 14, '61; dis. Dec. 12, '62, disa.; in 1875, Westfield; 
d. Spencer, July 28, 1896. 

Anthony, Henry, b. Germany; 36, M.; cigar maker. West- 
field; June 14, '61; dis. March 1, '62, disa.; later m 
16th Conn., and Co. A, 27th Mass.; in 1875, Westfield. 

Atkins, George A., b. Hartford, Conn.; 29, M.; painter, 
Westfield; June 14, '61; desert. Jan. 1, '62; in 1875, 
Hartford; dead. 



504 



The Tkxth Massachusetts Infantry 




LIEUT. T. S. NOBLE (F), 



CAPT. E. T. JOHNSON. 



Aufort, George F., b. Germany; 38, M.; cigar maker, West- 
field; June 14, '61; M. 6. July 1', '64; in 1875, New 
Haven, Conn.; d. Dec. 24, 1904,' S. H., Chelsea. 

Bacon, James E., b. Worcester; 20, S.; bootmaker, Leicester; 
June 14, '61; M. O. July 1, '64; later served in 2d Mass. 
Cav.; in 1875, farmer, New Braintree. 

Barden, Henry M., b. Southwick; 37, M.; cigar maker, West- 
field; June 14, '61; dis. Oct. 11, '62, disa. 

Barden, Marshall, (Corp.), b. Southwick; 37, S.; cooper, 
Southwick; June 14, '61; wd. chest. May 31, '62, Fair 
Oaks; d. of wds., David's Island, N. Y. Harbor, June 
12, '62. 

Bates, Henry C, b. Gill; 25, S.; carpenter, Westfield; June 
14, '61; wd. thigh, May 3, '63, Salem Heights; trans. 
March 16, '64, 24th Regt., V. R. C; in 1875, Chicopee; 
1908, 149 Sherman St., Springfield. 

Bates, Stephen, (R), b. Manitou, N. Y.; 17, S.; hostler, 
Greenfield; Sept. 6, '61; dis. March 1, '62, disa.; 1907, 
N. S. H., Togus, Me. 

Baynes, Levi D., b. Holden; 18, S.; teamster, Spencer; June 
14, '61; M. O. July 1, '64; in 1875, railroad man, Spring- 
field; Newell says " Boynes " and makes him "Wagoner." 

Beaumont, John J., b. England; 22, S.; bootmaker, Spencer; 
June 14, '61; Corp., Jan. 1, '63; wd. head, Salem Heights, 
unconscious for some time; "one-eighth inch closer," said 
the Surgeon, "and you would never have known what 
hit you;" his wd. kept him from Gettysburg, the only 



Company K 505 

fight missed; M. O. July 1, '64; in 1875, merchant, 
Worcester; in 1908, real estate, Worcester. 

Bemis, Oscar R., b. Spencer; 28, M.; bootmaker, Spencer; 
June 14, '61; dis. Sept. 30, '61, disa.; en. Co. E., 34th 
Mass., Aug. 26, '62; d. hosp., July 31, '63; bur. Spencer. 

Bercume, Silas, b. Canada; 24, S.; bootmaker, Spencer; 
June 14, '61; dis. July 29, '62, disa.; in 1875, Warren. 

Boynes, David; vide Baynes, Levi D. 

Brooks, George, b. Hartford, Conn.; 20, S.; cigar maker, 
Westfield; June 14, '61; dis. Dec. 17, '61, disa.; d. 
Westfield before 1875. 

Bullard, Amasa Bemis, b. Spencer; 23, S.; bootmaker, 
Spencer; June 14, "61; M. O. July 1, '64; in 1872, boot 
cutter, Holhston; d. and bur. in Spencer. 

Caniey, Thomas, b. Ireland; 27, M.; bootmaker, Spencer; 
'" June 14, '61; d. Aug. 30, '61, Columbia College Hosp., 
Washington, typhoid fever, one of the first deaths in the 
Company. 

Carter, Lewis C. b. Canada; 22, S.; harness maker, West- 
field; June 14, '61; M. O. July 1, '64; in 1875, harness 
maker, Great Barrington. 

Caswell, Hiram K., b. Hardwick; 28, M.; piano leg maker, 
Westfield; June 14, '61; re. Dec. 21, '63; trans. June 
20, '64, 37th Mass.; trans. June 21, '65, 20th Mass.; wd. 
Sailor's Creek, April 6, '65; M. O. July 16, '65; in 1875, 
railroad man, Dana; rep. dead, 1903. 

Chamberlain, Silas T., b. Thetford, Vt.; 28, M.; bootmaker, 
Spencer; June 14, '61; M. O. July 1, '64; in 1875, said 
to be in Boston. 

Clark, George E., b. Millbury; 27, M.; bootmaker, Spencer; 
June 14, '61; dis. Nov. 26, '62, disa.; later in 2d Conn. 
Heavy Artillery; wd. Oct. 17, '64 and trans. 3d Regt., 
V. R. C; dis. Sept. 2, '65; in 1869, shoemaker, Win- 
chester; d. Feb. 19, 1900, N. S. H., Togus, Me. 

Clark, Willis W., (Mus.); 21. S.; bookkeeper, Westfield; 
June 21, '61; wd. July 1, '62, Malvern Hill; dis. Dec. 
5, '62, disa.; later in 3bth Unattached Company, Heavy 
Artillery; in 1875, Hartford. 

Clemence, Joseph, b. Westfield; 28, S.; painter, Westfield; 
June 14, '61; trans. March 16, '64, V. R. C; M. O. 
July 1, '64; in 1875, painter, Westfield; dead. 

Collier, Anson L, b. Rutland; 25, M.; carpenter, Spencer; 



-506 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

June 14, '61; wd. leg, Malvern Hill, and in both arms, 

May 3, '63, Salem Heights; trans. Sept. 12, '63, Co. A, 

20th V. R. C; re. April 18, '64, cr. Boston; dis. Nov. 

21, '65; in 1869, farmer, Spencer; 1909, Spencer. 
Conway, WiUiam, b. Sutton; 18, S.; farmer, Leicester; June 

14, '61; d. Aug. 4, '62, Philadelphia. 
Cook, Albert H., b. Westfield; 22, S.; teamster, Westfield; 

June 14, '61; re. Dec. 21, '63; trans. June 20, '64, 37th 

Mass. ; trans. June 21, '65, 20th Mass. ; M. 0. July 16, '64; 

in 1875, farmer, Westfield; dead. 
Cooney, John, b. Ireland; 27, S.; boot-maker, Spencer; June 

14, '61; dis. Jan. 13, '63, disa.; d. Jan. 20, 1887, N. S. H., 

Togus, Me. 
Copley, Henry L., b. Suffield, Conn.; 29, M.; whip maker, 

Westfield; June 14, '61; trans. Nov. 16, '61, western 

gunboat service; Newell spells "Copeley." 
Copley, Hiram H., b. West Suffield, Conn.; 19, S.; whip 

maker, Westfield; June 14, '61; dis. July 15, '62, disa.; 

en. Feb. 9, '65, Co. C, 27th Mass.; M. O. July 26, '65; 

in 1909, Westfield; Newell spells "Copeley." 
Crosby, Isaiah, b. Brewster; 31, M.; mechanic, Spencer; 

June 14, '61; k. July 1, '62, Malvern Hill. 
Day, Lawrence, b. East Hartford, Conn.; 19, S.; hostler, 

Westfield; June 14, '61; k. May 12, '64, Spottsylvania ; 

Newell says "k. at Malvern Hill" and same is blue 

penciled on State House rolls; the later record is probably 

correct; his comrades nicknamed him "Mahogany." 
Dinneen, James, b. Ireland; 19, S.; blacksmith, Westfield; 

June 14, '61; k. May 12, '64, Spottsylvania. 
Evans, Moses W., (Sergt.), b. Tompkinsville, N. Y.; 20, S.; 

cigar maker, Cambridge; June 14, '61; prom. Sergt. 

Major, (F. and S.), Oct. 10, '62; rep. dead, 1901. 
Fowler, Sherman J., b. New Haven, Conn.; 22, S.; hostler, 

Westfield; June 14, '61; M. 0. July 1, '64; in 1875, hack 

driver, Hartford; rep. dead, 1899. 
Freed, Hiram, (Corp.), b. Sellersville, Pa.; 24, S.; cigar 

maker, Westfield; June 14, '61; dis. Nov. 29, 62, disa.; 

in 1875, cigar manufacturer, Westfield; drowned, 1883, 

Conn. 
Purrow, George F., b. Westfield; 18, S.; whip maker, West- 
field; June 14, '61; re. Dec. 21, '63; trans. June 20, '64, 

37th Mass.; trans. June 21, '65, 20th Mass.; M. O. 



Company K 507 

July 16, '65; in 1875, Westfield; dead; State House 
rolls give "Furron." 

Furrow, Henry, b. Westfield; 22, S.; whip maker, Westfield 
June 14, '61; dis. Aug. 19, '62, disa., occasioned by loss 
of right thumb; later served in V. R. C; in 1875, whip 
maker, Westfield ; dead; State House rolls give "Furron.' 

Gaddes, Joseph, b. Portsmouth, N. H.; 24, S.; cigar maker 
Westfield; June 14, '61; d. as Sergt., Fredericksburg 
June 1, '64, of wds. received May 5, '64, Wilderness. 

Gardner, Nelson H., (First Sergt.), b. Sufifield, Conn.; 30, M. 
builder, Westfield; June 14, '61; wd. July 1, '62, Malvern 
Hill; prom. Second Lieut., Sept. 29, '62, Co. A. 

Gaylord, James, b. Westfield; 19, S.; cigar maker, Westfield 
June 14, '61; dis. April 17, '62, disa.; en. July 31, '62 
' jCo. G, 34th Mass.; k. as Sergt., Oct. 13, '64, near Stras- 
burg, Va. 

Gaynor, Thomas, b. Ireland; 21, S.; bootmaker. Ware 
June 14, '61; dis. July 25, '62, disa.; d. before 1875 
in Michigan. 

Ginn, John N., (R), b. Pittsfield; 18, S.; farmer, Pittsfield 
March 17, '62; trans. June 20, '64, 37th Mass.; M. O 
March 18, '65; in 1875, employ of B. & A. R. R., Worces- 
ter; dead. 

Gonzales, Manuel, b. Spain; 21, S.; cigar maker, Westfield 
June 14, '61; trans. Nov. 9, '62, Battery G, 2d U. S. 
Artillerv; dis. from Battery L, 1st U. S. Artillery, Fort 
Schuyler, N. Y. Harbor, Nov. 9, '65. 

Gorham, Horace H., b. Russell; 27, S.; whip maker. West- 
field; June 14, '61; wd. leg, Malvern Hill and capt., 
confined in Richmond 20 days, in hosp. Fort. Monroe and 
parole camp, Annapolis, rejoining Regt. at Cherry Run; 
wd. in left thigh, Mav 9, '64, Wilderness, being crippled 
thus for life; M. O. July 1, '64; in 1908, Huntington. 

Graham, John, b. Millburv; 25, S.; bootmaker, Ware; June 
14, '61; trans. Aug. 25, '63, Signal Corps; dis. May 31, 
'64; in 1875, Rochdale; dead. 

Griffin, Edwin T., b. Windsor, Conn.; 19, S.; farmer, Chico- 
pee; June 14, '61; M. O. July 1, '64; d. May 19, 1896, 
N. S. H., Togus, Me. 

Hock, Carl, b. Germany; 30, M.; cigar maker, Westfield;. 



508 



The Tenth Massachusetts Ixfantry 




CullP. J. J. BKAU.MUM, 



CUl;l'. A. W. HUNTKK. 



June 14, '61; dis. April 17, '62, disa.; en. July 31, '62, 
Co. G, 34th Mass.; M. O. as Sergt., June 16, '65; d. 
Sept. 8, 1870, Westfield; also Hoch. 

Hubbard, John, b. Mason, N. H.; 20, S.; cigar maker. West- 
field; June 14, '61; dis. Sept. 29, '62 for com.. Second 
Lieut., 10th N. H. Vols.; later First Lieut, and Capt.; 
in 1895, Concord, N. H. 

Hunter, Alexander W., b. Gei-many; 21, S.; cigar maker, West- 
field; June 14, '61; Corp., Jan. 1, '63; M. O. July 1, '64; 
"After forty years in the cigar and tobacco business, am 
now taking a rest so as to be ready for the last call;" 
served four years as Alderman, 4th Ward, Waukegan, 111. 

Jarrold, Thomas, b. England; 23, S.; cigar maker, Westfield; 
June 14, '61; wd. Malvern Hill; M. O. July 1, '64; in 
1875, Westfield; dead; name also found as Jerold and 
Jerald. 

Jones, Henry G.,b. South Charlestown.N.H.; 23, M.; builder, 
Westfield; dis. July 15, '62, disa.; in 1875, photographer, 
Westfield. 

Jones, John W., (R), b. Wales, Great Britain; 22, S.; 



Greenfield; Sept. 5, '61; k. May 5, '64, Wilderness. 
Kalfeur, Carl, b. Germany; 27, S.; cigar maker, Westfield; 
June 14, '61; d. Dec. 9, '62 and bur. in Smoky Hill 
Camp, Va.; name also given as Kalfear. 



Company- K 509 

Kelly, Patrick, b. Ireland; 26, S.; bootmaker, Spencer; 

June 14, '61; M. O. July 1, '64; in 1875, stationary 

engineer, Spencer; d. June 30, 1903. 
Knight, Charles L., b. Charlton; 27, S.; painter, Westfield; 

June 14, '61; Corp., July 3, '62; wd. May 3, '63, Salem 

Heights; trans. V. R. C; M. O. June 20, '64; in 1875, 

painter, Westfield; dead. 

Lav, James B., (R), b Westfield; 18, S.; farmer; Brightwood, 
D. C, Nov. 14, '61; k. July 1, '62, Malvern Hill; that 
he might enhst with his brother, Wm., the young man 
had paid his own fare to Brightwood; his body rests 
among the thousands of unknown dead at Arlington. 

Lay, Wm. G., b. Westfield; 21, S.; painter, Westfield; wd. 
leg, Salem Heights, and head, Spottsylvania ; Corp., 
June 1, '64; M. O. July 1, '64; James and WilHam were 
J sons of Ralph Lay who had four sons and a son-in-law 
in the service; Henry of Co. L, 1st Mass. Cav., who fell 
in the Valley, at age of 18, was the youngest to die from 
Westfield; James was the first to fall in battle from the 
town; in 1875, William was a whip maker in Westfield; 
d. June 13, 1889. 

Lewis, Edward T., (Corp.), b. Northampton; 24, S.; shoe 
dealer, Westfield; June 14, '61; dis. Aug. 8, '61, disa.; 
en. as Sergt., Dec. 25, '61, 31st Mass.; Feb. 9, '63, re- 
ceived com. as Second Lieut., 4th Louisiana Guards, 
later known as the 79th U. S. Colored Infantry; later, 
prom. Capt.; dis. through disa., June 17, '65; Dec, '66, 
returning to New Orleans, was appointed to a position 
in Bureau of Refugees, etc., remaining till June, '67; in 
1869, railroad employ, Carlin, Nev.; in 1908, N. S. H., 
Milwaukee, Wis. 

Littlefield, John D., b. Preble, N. Y.; 24, M.; cigar maker, 
Westfield; June 14, '61; d. typhoid fever, Oct. 11, '61, 
Brightwood, D. C; left wife and child in Poquonock, 
Conn. ; his parents resided in Ohio. 

Loomis, Wm. H., (Corp.), b. West Springfield; 19, S.; book- 
keeper, New Haven, Conn.; June 14, '61; Sergt., Aug. 
20, '62, First Sergt., Jan. 1, '63; wd. arm, June 8, '64, 
Cold Harbor; M. O. July 1, '64; ab. only ten days in 
enhstment; in 1909, dentist, Rockville, Conn.; member 
of State Dental Commission, 1901-04; Councilman, City 
of Rockville six years. Mayor two terms, 1900r04; mem- 
ber State Assernbly, 1903-04; Past Commander local 



510 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

Post, G. A. R., and Jun. Vice-Commander Dept., Conn.; 
member Conn. Army and Navy Club, and of the Conn. 
Society of Sons of the American Revolution; in Free 
Masonry is a member of Lodge, Chapter, Council and 
Commandery. 

Loppy, Wm. H.; vide Luther, C. H. 

Lovett, Murray, b. Amherst; 22, S.; bootmaker, Amherst; 
June 14, '61; d. disease, June 4, '62, Fair Oaks. 

Luther, Charles H., b. Troy, N. Y.; 23, S.; hostler, Troy, 
N. Y.; June 14, '61; after Fredericksburg fight, trans. 
V. R. C. ; his real name was Wm. H. Loppy and as such, 
has resided in Vineland, N. J., since 1864; was Town 
Clerk, 1879-81; Collector and Justice of the Peace, 
1881-83; Postmaster, 1883-87; Fire Commissioner, 1887, 
1895. 

Lyon, Thomas, b. Ireland; 20, S.; bootmaker, Spencer; 
June 14, '61; dis. Nov. 9, '62 to re. Battery G, 2d U. S. 
Artillery. 

McCloskey, Thomas, b. Charlestown; 29, S.; bootmaker, 
Spencer; June 14, '61; desert. Sept. 17, '61; later served 
in a Pa. Regiment. 

Marcell, Andrew, b. Canada; 20, S.; blacksmith, Spencer; 
June 14, '61; wd. right thigh. May 5, '64, Wilderness; 
was one of the color guard, Nov. 19, '63, when Lincoln 
made his famous speech at Gettysburg; M. O. July 1, 
'64; d. before 1875 in Springfield; Newell has "Marsell." 

Mason, Wm. W., b. England; 34, M.; mechanic, Spencer; 
June 14, '61; M. O. July 1, '64; in 1875, mechanic, 
Spencer; d. June 7, 1883. 

Moore, David M., (Corp.), b. Ireland; 24, S.; bootmaker, 
Spencer; June 14, '61; prom. Second Lieut. 

Moore, Ephraim T., b. Stockbridge; 27, M.; whip maker, 
Westfield; June 14, '61; re. Dec. 21, '63; k. May 5, '64, 
Wilderness. 

Moore, Thomas, b. England; 20, M.; bootmaker, Spencer; 
June 14, '61; wd. leg and shoulder. Wilderness; M. O. 
Julv 1, '64; in 1875, said to reside in Wisconsin; d. 
1888, N. S. H., Dayton, Ohio. 

Morse, Wm. J., b. England; 27, M.; whip maker, Westfield; 
June 14, '61; M. O. Julv 1, '64; in 1875, whip maker, 
Westfield; rep. dead, 1899. 



COMPAXY K 



511 




CORP. WM. G. LAY, 
CORP. G. D. SMITH, 



1ST. SERG'T. W. H. LOOMIS, 



SERG'T. J. M. PEEBLES, 



SERG'T. M.\J. M. W. EVANS. 



Neff, John, b. Germany; 22, S.; farmer, Wilbraham; June 
14, '61; re. Dec. 2'l, '63, cr. Westfield; d. June 1, '64 of 
wds. received May 9, '64, Wilderness. 

Newhouse, Albert N. C, b. Gei-many; 21, S.; cigar maker, 
Westfield; June 21, '61; wd. Malvern Hill and m the 
Wilderness;' M. O. July 1, "64; in 1875, New York City; 
in 1908, Windsor, Conn. 

Noble Tames M., b. Westfield; 27, S.; whip maker; June 
14 ''61; wd. Malvern Hill, Julv 1, "62; dis. Nov. 30, '62, 
disa • bv re. came back to Regt. and Company, March 
13 '63;' Corp., Sept. 24, '63; wd. arm. Wilderness; 
M.' O. July 1, '64; in 1909, whip maker, Westfield. 

Noble, Terry S., (Corp.), b. Westfield; 27, S.; whip maker, 



512 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

Westfield; June 14, '61; First Sergt., Nov., '61; prom. 
Second Lieut., Co. F; July 27, 1870, Second Lieut., 
2d Regt., M. V. M.; in 1907, Westfield. 

Peebles, James M., b. Palmer; 22, S.; whip maker, Westfield; 
June 14, '61; Corp., Aug. 20, '62; Sergt., Jan. 1, '63; 
M. O. July 1, '64; d. 1866, Westfield; bur. Palmer. 

Perkins, Henry E., b. Westfield; 24, M.; whip maker. West- 
field; June 14, '61; re. Dec. 21, '63; capt.. Wilderness, 
held at Andersonville six months and twenty-two days; 
trans. June 20, '64, 37th Mass.; trans. June 21, '65, 
20th Mass.; M. O. July 16, '65; in 1875, Westfield; rep. 
dead, 1898. 

Plaisted, Mark H., (Sergt.), b. South Berwick, Me.; 24, M.; 
organ builder; May 31, '61; desert, from Blackwell's 
Island Hosp., Sept., '62. 

Prouty, Horace E., b. Spencer; 30, M.; bootmaker, Spencer; 
June 14, '61; Corp., Aug. 20, '62; M. O. July 1, '64; 
in 1875, lived in Pa.; d. Nov. 19, 1884, Spencer. 

Rabson, James, b. Albany, N. Y. ; 28, S.; cigar maker, 
Albany, N. Y. ; M. O. July 1, '64; also "Robson." 

Raider, Henry M., (R), N. F. R. except "dis. Nov. 24, '62, 

disa." 
Reed, Edward P., b. Chicopee; 21, S.; blacksmith, Westfield; 

June 14, '61; wd. Spottsylvania ; M. O. July 1, '64; dead. 

Reinhardt, Robert, (R), b. Germanv; 21, S.; shoemaker, 
Pittsfield; trans. June 20, '64, 37th Mass.; k. Aug. 21, 
'64, near Charlestown, W. Va. 

Robinson, George, b. Wilbraham; 20, S.; carpenter, Wilbra- 
ham; June 14, '61; k. May 5, '64, Wilderness. 

Rochan, Alphonse, b. Canada; 19, S.; cigar maker. West- 
field; June 14, '61; M. O. July 1, '64; rep. dead, 1898. 

Rowell, Daniel M., b. Waterford, Vt.; 20, S.; mechanic, 
Spencer; June 14, '61; re. Dec. 21, '63; trans. June 20, 
'64, 37th Mass.; trans. June 21, '65, 20th Mass.; M. O. 
July 16, '65; in 1875 was said to be in Vermont. 

Sackett, Cornelius, b. Westfield; 18, S.; butcher, Westfield; 
June 14, '61; Corp., Jan. 1, '63; wd. leg, June 18, '64, 
front of Petersburg; M. O. July 1, '64; en. Dec. 30, '64, 
Co. M, 3d Mass. Cav.; Sergt., Feb. 10, '65; dis. Sept. 28, 
'65, Ft. Leavenworth, Kan.; the soldier came within one 
of not being wd. at all, since, on the 19th, the Regt. was 



Company K 513 

withdrawn from the front to start for home ; unable to 
find the ball at first, the surgeons gave him a place in 
the field whereon to lie until morn; while trying next 
day to find a branch to use as a cane, he was surprised 
to find a staff that had seen long service; it seemed 
providentially near ; it helped him off and is still retained 
as a souvenir; as late as 1905, splinters of bone worked 
out of his wd.; not absent from Regt. a day; in 1875, 
livery business, Westfield; later in hotel and restaurant 
line; has visited all the states of the Union east of the 
Rockies, except Maine and Texas; in 1908, retired, 
still in Westfield ; at the Wilderness, he carried his can- 
teen to a wounded man between the lines, and at 
Spottsylvania, where Co. K was at the extreme right, 
he was the very last man in the Company. 
Sargent, Theodore, (Corp.), 20, S.; farmer, Spencer; re. 
Dec 21, '63, cr. Westfield; trans. June 20, '64, 37th 
Mass.; trans. June 21, '65, 20th Mass.; M. O. July 16, 
'65; in 1875, Leominster; dead. 
Smith, Charles A., b. Hadley; 21, —; machinist, Greenfield; 

June 14, '61; dis. May 1, '62, disa. 
Smith George D., b. Southwick; 21, S.; whip maker, West- 
field; June 14, '61; Corp., June 1, '64; M. O. July 1, '64; 
in 1875, Westfield; dead. 
Snow Albert, b. Chester; 29, S.; carpenter, Westfield; 
June 14, '61; d. Dec. 28, '61, Brightwood, D. C; bur. 
Westfield. 
Solomon, Henry, (Sergt.), b. England; 21, S.; cigar maker, 
New York City; June 14, '61; dis. Aug. 5, 62, disa.; 
went to Australia; dead. 
Solomon, John, b. England; 18, S.; cigar maker New York 
City; June 14, '61; M. O. July 1, '64; wd. foot, Spott- 
sylvania; in 1875, Australia; dead. 
Sparks, John H., (R), b. Suffield, Conn.; 18, S^; laborer, 
Springfield; Aug. 22, '62; dis. Nov. 9, 62, disa.; also 
found as George H. 
Sprague, Samuel, b. Northbridge; 24, S.; joiner, Westfield; 

June 14, '61; k. May 8, '64, Wilderness. 
Stiles,|Charles H., b. Southwick; 22 S., currier, Westfield; 
June 14, '61; trans. Jan. 1, '63, 6th U. S. Cav.; m 1875, 
paper maker, Westfield; dead. 



514 



The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 




CORP. C. SACKETT, 



G. W. THOMPSON, 



('. H. LUTHER. 



Swan, Adam, (Sergt.), b. New York City; 27, M.; cigar 
maker, Westfield; June 14, "61; Sergt., June 1, '64; at 
different times, carried both State and National Colors; 
M. O. July 1, '64; in 1908, Westfield. 

Thompson, George W., (R), b. Bernardston; 24, — ; farmer, 
Greenfield; Sept. 5, '61; wd. Malvern Hill; re. Jan. 

13, '64; wd. Wilderness; trans. June 19, '64, 37th 
Mass.; dis. Feb. 11, '65; in 1875. Chesterfield; in 1909, 
Florence. 

Tinkham, Joseph A., b. Westfield; 23, S.; building mover, 
Westfield; June 14, '61; wd. Malvern Hill; dis. as 
Corp., Feb., '63, disa.; in 1875, whip maker, Westfield; 
dead. 

Toomy, Edmund, b. Charlton; 22, S.; bootmaker, Spencer; 
June 14, '61; d. Aug. 11, '62; said to have d. of home- 
sickness; body sent home to Spencer; date of death also 
given as July 19. 

Trainer, John, b. Ipswich; 22, S.; currier, Westfield; June 

14, '61; d. May 20, '64, Fredericksburg, from wds. 
received May 7, '64, Wilderness. 

Tyler, Merrick M., (Wagoner), b. Bernardston: 20, S.; team- 
ster, Bernardston; June 14, '61; M. O. July 1, '64; in 
1875, Westfield; rep. dead, 1899. 

Tyrell, Alonzo; 19, S.; bootmaker, Spencer; June 14, '61 
dis. from hosp. Aug. 18, '61, disa. 



Unassigned Recruits 51.5 

Wadge, Joseph, b. Canada; 30, M.; wire drawer, Spencer; 
June 14, '61; dis. April 17, '62, disa.; in 1875, resided 
in Wisconsin. 

Wallace, Thomas, (R), b. Ireland; 35, S.; laborer, Westfield; 
Dec. 23, '63; wd. Wilderness; trans. June 20, '64, 37th 
Mass.; dis. March 3, '65, disa. 

Wheeler, Homer S., b. Westfield; 19, S.; cigar maker, West- 
field; June 14, '61; M. 0. July 11, '64; in 1875, Lowell; 
dead. 

Whittaker, John W., (Mus.), b. Troy, N. Y.; 33, S.; cigar 
maker, Troy, N. Y. ; June 14, '61 ; M. O. July 1, '64; dead. 

Woods, Rufus M., b. Wendell; 20, vS.; tailor, Westfield; 
June 14, '61; M. O. July 1, '64; later, First Sergt., 3d 
Mass. Cav.; prom. First Lieut., Oct. 1, '65; in 1909, 131 
Superior St., Providence, R. L 

Wdrthington, John M., b. Spencer; 24, M.; carpenter, Spen- 
cer; June 21, '61; re. Dec. 21, '63, cr. Westfield; trans, 
as Sergt., June 20, '64, 37th Mass.; k. Sept. 19, '64, 
Winchester; on enlistment, was offered the position of 
regimental carpenter, but he declined, saying, "I came 
out to fight; I can work at my trade at home." 

Young, John B., b. Philadelphia; 26, M.; cigar maker, 
Westfield; June 14, '61; Corp., Aug. 20, '62; Sergt., 
Sept. 29, '62; M. O. July 1, '64; in 1909, 36 Church St., 
Hartford, Conn. 



UNASSIGNED RECRUITS 

Atwood, Philip; 28, — ; , Cambridge; Aug. 4, '62; 

trans. V. R. C. 

Burnett, Charles; 29, S.; stonecutter, New York City; Jan. 
8, '64, cr. West Springfield; N. F. R. 

Burns, Reuben; 28, S.; farmer, Colrain; Sept. 3, '62; dis. 
April 27, '63, disa.; also "Barnes." 

Clate, Marshall; 22, S.; farmer, Greenfield; March 7, '62; 
N. F. R.; also "Slate." 

Callaghan, John; 18, S.; farmer. Gill; Aug. 11, '62; served 
time out in some other regt.; precisely the same descrip- 
tion is given for Corp. John Gallighan, Co. C, 27th Mass. 

Carroll, Thomas; 21, —; laborer, Colrain; Aug. 29, '62; 
N. F. R.; vide Letter, W. D., Sept. 14, 1900. 



516 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

Cullen, Walace B.; 34, M.; merchant, Northampton; March 
18, '62; N. F. R. 

Currier, Joseph H.; 37, — ; carpenter, Colrain; Aug. 29, '62; 
desert. Sept., '62; arrested Sept. 12, '63; has a long 
record but not a good one. 

Dorus, James; 32, — ; painter, Holyoke; Jan. 14, '64; 
rejected Jan. 22, '64. 

Farland, George; 26, S.; farmer, Springfield; Sept. 15, '62; 
N. F. R. 

Goro, Lewis; 34, — ; farmer. Ware; Feb. 25, '64; rejected, 
Feb. 28, '64. 

Graham, John, Jr.; 23, M.; carpenter, Huntington; Oct. 
20, '62; N. F. R. 

Hoag, W. D.; 21, —; , Springfield; June 14, '61; 

desert. July 12, '61. 

Hogan, William; 40, — ; farmer, Charlestown; Sept. 9, '62; 
N. F. R. 

Kelly, William; 29, S.; laborer, Springfield; Sept. 30, '62; 
N. F. R. 

Kirk, Henry F.; 26, M.; artist, Northampton; Oct. 14, '62, 
N. F. R. 

Moore, John; 26, S.; painter, Springfield; Sept. 10, '26; 
N. F. R. 

Newton, John, 2d; 27, S.; farmer, Gill; Aug. 8, '62; dis. 
Jan. 24, '63, disa.; Philadelphia. 

O'Connor, Thomas; 34, — ; laborer, Springfield; Jan. 5, '64; 
rejected, Jan. 9, '64. 

Preston, Robert; 23, S.; druggist, Dorchester; May 18, '64, 
cr. Grafton; trans. June 20, '64, Co. K, 37th Mass.; 
probably the same as Robert Preston, Co. F, dis. Sept. 
17, '62, disa. 

Ramsdell, Horace; 25, — ; farmer, Cambridge; Feb. 11, '62; 
N. F. R. 

Scott, Albert; 20, S.; currier, Rowe; Jan. 30, '62; went on 
board steamer to see two brothers off for New Orleans; 
the vessel started with him on board; he then en. in Co. 
C, 31st Mass., and served four years. 

Slate, Marshall F.; same as Clate, vide above. 



Last Scene of All 517 

Stiles, Aaron N.; 44, — ; farmer, Hawley; Jan. 7, '64; 
rejected, Jan. 17, '64. 

Streeter, Lorenzo; 20, S.; farmer, Greenfield; March 7, '62- 
N. F. R. 

Williams, Charles F.; 18, S.; miller, Norton or Newton; 
Aug. 11, '62; N. F. R.; the same name is found in Co. H, 
7th Mass., serving to expiration of enhstment. 

WilHams, John; 38, — ; farmer. Ware; Feb. 25, '64; re- 
jected, Feb. 29, '64. 

Witherell, David; 34, — ; lather, Boston; Sept. 10, '62; 
N. F. R. 



"Last scene of all that ends this strange 
— ^ eventful history" 

Thursday, April 22, 1909, in the Executive Chamber, 
Boston, the second set of colors, received at Warrenton, in 
exchange for those presented by the ladies of Springfield, 
were returned to the keeping of the Commonwealth. Soon 
after the muster-out of the regiment, they were entrusted 
to the City of Northampton by Lieut. Colonel J. B. Parsons, 
and for more than forty years were in the keeping of the City, 
either in the City Hall or Library. At last it seeming best 
that they should stand with their fellows in the Hall of Flags 
at the State House, they were formally presented to Governor 
Eben F. Draper as above. The address of presentation was 
made in an eloquent manner by Past Department Commander 
John W. Hersey, Co. H, who was accompanied by former 
Color Serg't. Adam Swann of Co. K, J. H. Howard, Co. C, 
and Capts. Geo. W. Bigelow and Flavel Shurtleff, also J. H. 
Manning of Pittsfield, an honorary member of the Tenth 
Regiment Veteran Association. 

SPEECH OF COMMANDER HERSEY 

"Your Excellency Governor Draper: 

"I count myself indeed fortunate that I am permitted to 
stand here to-day, in this honorable presence, as the rep- 
resentative of my comrades of the old 10th Regiment of 
Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, to participate with a few 
of them in the formal presentation and the turning over to 
you, sir, as the honored chief executive of the Common- 



.518 The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 

wealth these colors of our old regiment. For a long time manv 
of us have entertained the hope that in some wav it might 
be brought about that these colors, which for many years 
have been in the care and keeping of the good people of 
Northampton, might be turned over to the Commonwealth 
here to find a final resting place with their honored associates, 
and we are happy in the thought to-day, that through the 
kindness and consideration of the Board of Trustees of the 
Public Library of Northampton, a representative of whom 
is present here in the person of Mr. T. G. Spalding, that at 
last our hopes in this respect are about to be realized. 

"These colors, sir, were carried by our regiment in the follow- 
ing battles: Rappahannock Station, Mine Run, Wilderness, 
Spottsylvania Court House, Cold Harbor, North Anna and 
Petersburg, and I am pleased, your Excellency, to be able to 
report to you to-day, in behalf of my comrades of the old 
regiment, both living and dead, that while these colors were 
in our care and keeping, they were never disgraced or dis- 
honored; they were never captured or taken from us; they 
were never lowered when they should have been borne aloft; 
they were never in the rear when they should have been at 
the front; and that they were never furled, when they should 
have been unfurled and thrown to the breeze; that under 
their folds and following their lead, and fighting in their 
defence, hundreds of our comrades sacrificed and suftered 
and died that the honor and integrity of the old Common- 
wealth might be maintained, the Union preserved and the 
perpetuity of the Republic established. 

"And we are especially pleased, as we turn them over to you, 
sir, as our chief executive, and through you to the State, who 
gave them to us and sent us forth to defend them, that here 
in the place prepared for them, surrounded by that glorious 
companv of their associates, the very elect of the old Common- 
wealth, they shall find a final resting place; henceforth to 
serve as an object lesson to future generations, teaching them 
lessons of patriotism, loyalty, self-sacrifice and devotion to 
duty which those who bore them and defended them and died 
for them pi-actised so well." 

Governor Draper received the colors in l)ehalf of the 
Commonwealth and passed them over to Sergeant-at-arms 
D. T. Remington who, in the presence of the regimental 
representatives, deposited them in the glass encased alcove 
of the Hall of Flags. These are the colors that appear in the 
frontispiece of this volume. 



TABLE OF AGGREGATES 



519 





1i 

■30 


Killed or died 
of wounds. 




V 

K . 


a 


V 

-3 

3 



Discharged for 
promotion in 
other organ- 
izations. 


Re-enlisted. 


■6 
Q 


Field and Staff, 


22 


2 






1 


7 






Non-Com. Staff, 


17 


1 








1 






Band, 


24 






1 


1 








Company A. 


















Officers. 


10 








2 






Men, 


117 


6 




5 


21 2 


22 


12 


Company B. 


















Officers, 


9 


2 




1 


1 








Men, 


119 


10 




3 


23 2 


19 


7 


Company C. 
















Officers, 


8 


1 






2 






Men, 


124 


10 


1 


6 


30 7 


11 


1 


Company D. 
Officers, 


6 








3 






Men, 


115 


15 


2 


1 


27 ! 3 


15 


7 


Company E. 
















Officers, 


6 








3 






Men, 


108 


13 




3 


31 1 


28 


9 


Company F. 
















Officers. 


7 








4 






Men, 


116 


10 




4 


15 8 


11 


6 


Company G. 
















Officers, 


7 


1 






2 






Men, 


122 


8 


3 


2 


42 3 


8 


1 


Company H. 
















Officers, 


9 








2 






Men, 


139 


22 




4 


44 


13 





Company I. 










i 






Officers, 


6 


1 






1 1 






Men, 


123 


16 


1 


9 


51 2 


5 


9 


Company K. 
















Officers, 


7 








2 






Men, 


108 


12 




7 


25 1 


9 


3 


Unassigned 
Recruits, 


28 














2 


Totals 


1357 


130 


7 


46 


333 


37 


141 


55 



Explanatory — Inasmuch as the total number belonging includes 
the names of officers and men, used more than once, in some cases as 
manv as five times, also those of Unassigned Recruits who in no way con- 
tributed to the story of the regiment, this total should be lessened by 
124, thus bringing the true aggregate to 1233. 

The total of 333 wounded does not mean that number of men re- 
ceived wounds other than mortal, but that so many wounds were 
inflicted in different battles, one man being hit in no less than four 
engagements, others three times, etc. 



520 



The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 



INDEX 



In consulting the following index, attention is called to certain 
items. Small capitals indicate divisions of the narrative. Letters 
and reports are given chronologically, while portraits, of which there 
are one hundred and seventy-eight, are printed alphabetically. 
Where several regiments from different states are given, the full-faced 
numerals refer to the number of the regiment, others to the pages. 



Abbott, H. M., 323. 
Abbott, J. H., 268, 385. 
Abbott, Wm. F., 320 
Aborn, J., 162. 
Abrams, Thos., 503. 
Adams, 298. 
Adams, Chas., 403. 
Adams, Chas. E., 264, 416. 
Adams, H. S., 430. 
Adams, John C, 430. 
Adams, John Q., 23, 232. 
Adams, Wm. H., 58, 324, 

448, 459. 
Aggregates, Table of, 519. 
Aiken, William N., 121, 416. 
Alexander, Mayor Henry, 

294. 
Alexander, L. P., 448. 
Alexandria, 30, 133, 240. 
Alexandria, 133. 
Allen, Chas. E., 486. 
Allen, E. A., 430. 
Allen, G. W., 403. 
Allen, S. W., 403. 
Allen, T. H., 12. 
Allen, Wm. B., 342, 385. 
Allen Guards, 7, 10. 
Allen's Farm, 114. 
Allis, John D., 122, 465. 
Allotment Commission, 67. 
Amidon, L. F., 103, 367. 
Amidon, S. H., 448. 
Anderson, Geo. W., 5, 416, 

420. 
Andrew, Governor, 8, 9, 19; 

Visits Brightwood, 44, 46; 

124, 152, 194, 217, 299. 
Andrews, R. K., 352. 
Andrews, Sam'l, 23. 
Anderson's Brigade, 117, 

118. 
Anthony, Henry, 503. 
Antiet.\m, 136. 



.\pril Fool's Day, 251. 
Aquia Creek, 29, 66. 
Arbuckle, Fred, 121, 403. 
Ariel, (Steamer) 66. 
Armstrong, D. E., 188, 448. 
Armstrong, Jas., 417. 
Army Corps Badges, 170. 
Arnold, Lieut., 298. 
Arnold, Wm., 448. 
Arthur, Mrs. Chas., 47. 
Ash, Patrick, 486. 
Ashby's Gap, 214. 
Ashley, H. B., 486. 
Ashley, Wm. A., 242, 257, 

264, 404, 485, 486. 
Ashman, John, 352. 
Atherton, R. L., 103, 448. 
Atherton, Wm. B., 103, 448. 
Atkins, Geo. A., 503. 
Atkins, Wm. H., 122, 486. 
Atkinson, Wm., 487. 
Atwood, C. H., 103, 386. 
Atwood, J. E., 103, 324, 367. 
Atwood, PhiUp, 448, 515. 
Aufort, Geo. E., 504. 
Auger, V. J., 465. 
Austin, C. L., 465, 475. 
Austin, J. E., 104, 265, 466, 

478. 
Averill, Gen. J. T., 118, 127, 

173. 
Averill, L. T., 268, 431, 

442. 
Avery, John, 466, 468. 
Ayers, Gen. R. B., 174. 
Babcock, L. F., 48, 430. 
Babcock, Wm. N., 403. 
Bachelder, Col. J. B., 320. 
Bacon, J. M., 22, 351. 
Bacon, Jas. E., 504. 
Bacon, John H., 403. 
Badges, Army Corps, 170. 
Bagg, Chas. H., 487. 



Baggage wagons turned in, 

41. 
Bailey, Geo. E., 403. 
Baldwin, G. W., 162. 
Baldwin, Jas., 488. 
Baldwin, W. A., 265. 
Ball, John D., 417. 
Ball, N. O., 268, 386. 
Baltimore Cross Roads, 83. 
Baltz, J. H., 286, 449. 
Balloon Corps, 201. 
Balloon experience, 174. 
Ball's Bluff, 44, 203. 
Ball's Cross Roads, 134. 
Band arrives, 18; at Fair 

Oaks, 95; goes home, 128; 

rearrives, 246; roster, 343. 
Banker, Henry, 188, 352. 
Banks, Gen'l. N. P., 8, 60. 
Banks's Ford, 191, 192. 
Bannerot, C. E., 188, 386. 
Barber, Geo. A., 188, 352. 
Barber, H. L., 343, 352. 
Bard, Peter, 54, 466. 
Barden, H. M., 504. 
Barden, Mar., 104, 504. 
Bard well, C. L., 386. 
Bardwell, F. D., 265, 466. 
Bardwell, Guy, 268, 403. 
Barksdale, Gen., 189. 
Barnard, M. C, 432. 
Barnes, Albert, 488. 
Barnes, Col. Jas., 51. 
Barnes, Mrs. Jas., 19, 20. 
Barnett's Ford, 245. 
Barry, John, 104, 187, 188, 

488. 
Barrack Building, 47. 
Barrett, Benton, 387. 
Barrett, Wm. T., 144. 
Barrows, W. R., 387. 
Barten, Rev. Mr., 217. 
Bartholomew, M., 352. 



Index 



521 



Bartlett, A. T., 432. 
Bartlett, E. B., 242, 271, 

341, 366, 367, 432. 
Bartlett, Gen. J. B., 212, 

213. 
Bartlett, J. F., 265, 324, 466, 

481. 
Barton, D. M., 264, 417. 
Barton, Fred, 10, 11, 22, 
24, 112, 119, 173,207, 228, 
296, 415, 485. 
Barton, F. A., 22, 33, 42, 46, 

228, 340. 
Barton, Mrs. F. A., 48. 
Barton, H. B., 264, 417. 
Base-ball, 177, 252, 253. 
Bassett, Almon, 403. 
Bassett, D. E., 188. 417. 
Bates, Alonzo, 104, 467. 
Bates, H. C, 189, 504. 
Bates, Stephen, 504. 
"Battle Summer," 253. 
Battles, Williamsburg, 77; 
Fair Oaks or Seven Pines, 
87; Malvern Hill. 117; 
Antietam, 136; Freder- 
icksburg, 154; Salem 
Heights, 184; Gettysburs, 
206; Rappahannock 
Station, 226; Mine Run, 
234; Wilderness, 253; 
Spottsylvania, 261; Cold 
Harbor, 283. 
Baynes, L. D., 504. 
Bazzell, v., 352. 
Beach, M. B., 264, 3.53. 
Bean, H. K., 103, 488. 
Beans for rations, 230 
Beaumont, J. J., 189, 504, 

508. 
Belchertown, 297. 
Belle Plain, 153. 
Bemis, O. R-, 505. 
Bemis, Ma.ior S. C, 12, 17, 

21. 
Bemis, Wm. H., 268, 467. 
Bennett, Geo. S., 103, 449. 
Bennett, J. H., 22, 139, 464, 

485. 
Benson, Chas., 387. 
Bercume, Silas, 505. 
Ber dan's Sharpshooters 

197, 198. 
Berlin, 146, 213. 
Bermuda Hundred. 289. 



Bernard House, 197, 198. 
Berry, John, 102, 367. 
Best, Robert. 104, 272, 488. 
Beugless, Chap. J. D., 244, 

250. 
Beverege, Lieut., 188. 
Bidgood, Abram, 121, 403. 
Bidwell, Gen. D. D., 275. 
Bigelow, C. H., 387. 
Bigelow, Edmund, 47, 173. 
Bigelow, G. W., 22, 90, 209, 
217, 218, 244, 271, 272, 
430, 503. 
Bigelow, J. W., 14, 104, 137, 

465, 467. 
Billings, G. W., 417, 420. 
Bingham, Rev. A. J., 128, 

142, 166, 340. 
Birnie, Wm., 152, 164. 
Bishop, D. J., 353. 
Bishop, W. I., 103, 246, 264, 
274, 282, 351, 385, 386, 
387. 
Black, Levi W., 264, 417, 
418. 

Black, Lewis T., 264, 417. 

Blair, F. P., Sr., 32, 45, 64. 

Blair, Montgomery, 44, 46, 64 

Blais, N. P. A., 126, 367. 

Blake, Jas. W., 432. 

Blake, Rev., 297. 

Blakesley, Chas., 353. 

Blackwell, L. M., 467. 

Blankets from Indian Or- 
chard, 46; from Spring- 
field, 46; from Holyoke, 
47. 

BUnn, N. O., 54, 367. 

Bliss, Chas., 432. 

Bliss, Geo. S., 387. 

Bliss, Sarah M., 20. 

Bliss, Zeba F., 320. 

Blodgett, C. G., 188, 449. 

Blodgett, J. L., 467. 

"Bloody Angle," 275. 

Blossom, H. G., 367. 

Blossom, J. W., 368. 

Bodman, Artemas, 449. 

Bodman, S. C, 262, 418. 

Boise, F. E., 54, 387. 

Bolander, Thos. Jr., 403. 

Bolster, G. W., 368. 

Bolter, P. C, 264, 404. 

Bolton, L. M., 432. 

Boonsborough, 212, 213. 



Bosquet, Phil., 449. 
Boston, 28. 
Boswell, D. A., 467. 
Bottom's Bridge, 85. 
Botts, J. M., 232, 239, 247. 
Bowen, Jas. L., 320, 323. 
Bowers, C. B., 64. 
Bowles, B. F., 44. 
Bowles, R. S., 244. 
Bowles, R. W., 174, 342, 

418. 
Bowles, Sam'l, 144, 164. 
Bowling Green Road, 183, 

280. 
Boyden, C. O., 122, 432. 
Boyington, H. J., 187, 188, 

488. 
Boyle, John, 54, 368. 
Boynes, David, 505. 
Boyste, Henry, 404. 

Brackett, H. W., 467. 

Bradford, A. F., 488. 

Brady, B. F., 54, 432. 

Brady, S. H., 488. 

Bradley, O. S., 121, 404. 

Bradley, Wm. H., 488. 

Braman, J. H., 93, 102, 387. 

Brandy Station, 232, 235. 

Brandy Station, 239, 249. 

Breck, Dr. Wm. G., 45. 

Brentsville, 225. 

Brew, Michael, 103, 387. 

Brewer, A. C, 268, 404. 

Brewster, C. H., 188, 209. 
231, 241, 246, 275, 324} 
326, 385, 387. 

Breyer, F. L., 405. 

Brick, Edward, 122, 488. 

Brick, Maurice, 488. 

Bridgman, J. C, 64. 

Bridgman, S. C, 64. 

Brigade Band, 246. 

Brigaded, 32. 

Brigade Relations, 317. 

Brigade Beview, 45. 

Briggs, A. D., 37. 

Briggs, A. J., 102, 449. 

Briggs, E. M., 102, 467, 468. 

Briggs, G. C, 368. 

Briggs, Ex. Gov. G. N., 27. 

38. 
Briggs, Col. H. S., 10, 11, 15, 
17, 19, 20, 22, 23, 38, 40. 
46, 49, 50. 53, 54, 56, 62, 
76, 91, 94, 97, 98, 100 



522 



The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 



101, 103, 105, 122, 124 
170, 213, 300, 301, 304 
324, 325, 333. 

Briggs, Mrs. H. S., 48. 

Briggs Memorial, 304. 

Briggs, P. H., 467, 483. 

Briggs, Wm. E., 264, 368. 

Brigham, Elijah, 468. 

Brightwood, 32, 62. 

Briner, Hiram, 353. 

Bringolf, Jacob, 104, 468. 

Bringolf, John, 468. 

Bristoe Station, 225, 227, 
228. 

Bristol. F., 12. 

Bristol. W. D., 3.53. 

British Officers, 233. 

Britt, Pat., 432. 

Brooks, Geo., .505. 

Brooks, H. F., 36, 4.50, 4.53. 

Brooks, J. P., 15. 488. 

Brooks. L. W., 102, 368. 

Brooks. Gen. W. T. H., 190, 
192, 196, 284, 338. 

Brown, Col. A. G., 162. 

Brown, H. A., .351, 387, 503. 

Brown, Thos., 489. 
Brown, Tim., 405. 
Brown, Wm. H., 318, 320 

368, 375. 
Browne, Col. Wm. H., 160 

172, 186, 192, 195. 
Browning, C. D., 468. 
Buckingham, Gen. C. P., 

149. 
Bu.ldington, B. M., 469. 
Budtlington, Rev. W. I., 252. 
Buell, C. E., 418. 
Buell, Gen. D. C, 38, 41, 44, 

45, 53. 
Bugbee, S. A., 104, 489. 
Bullard. A. B., 505. 
Bullard, J. S., .50. 
Bullard, W. H., 388. 
Bunker Hill Day. 12, 109. 
Burhank, J. H., 188, 432. 
Burbank, Sam.. 268, 405. 
Burby, H. C, 121, 388. 
Burke, Thos. F., 121, 433. 
Burnap, E. C. 36S. 
Burnett, Chas., 515. 
Burnham, D. R., 4.50. 
Burnham, E. D., 4.50. 
Burnham, F., 36S. 
Burnham. Geo., 326, 489. 



Burnham, Col. H., 184. 

Burnham, T. W., 450. 

Burns, James, 450. 

Burns, John, 268, 405. 

Burns, Reuben, 515. 

Burns, Robert, 103, 104 
450. 

Burnside, Gen. .\. E., 146 
149, 1.54, 167, 189. 

Burnside's Corps. 256, 270. 

Burr, Jas. W., 489. 

Bush, Sheriff, 17. 

Butler, Gen. B. F., 221. 244. 

Cady, Henry, 353. 

Cadweli, F. E., 419. 

Cahill, F. H., 265, 489. 

Cahill, Jas., 188, 3.53. 

Cahill, Thos., 419. 

Caine, Anth., 187, 188, 489. 

Caldwell, N. N.. 3.53. 

Calhoun, Ex. Mayor, 17. 

Callaghan, John, .515. 

Callahan, Pat., 40.5. 

Canieron, Simon, 60. 

Campbell, Andrew, 15. 

Campbell, John, 405. 

Campbell, J. R., 264, 469. 

Camp .\dams, 24. 
" McClellan, 24. 
Mutton, 148. 
Smith, 67. 
Winfield Scott, 74. 

Camp Groups, Brightwood, 
36. 

"'Campaign of Manoeuvres," 

227. 
Camp Scene. Brightwood, 

34. 
Caneda, Philo, 368. 
Cannon, H. B., 4.50. 
Capital Bakery, 35. 
Caps for hats, 43. 
Card, M. V., 265. 486, 490. 
Cardney, F., 268, 3.53. 
Carey, John, 121, 405. | 

Carle, Thos., 368. 
Carlton, G. W.. 3.53. I 

Carney, Thos., 505. 
Carpenter, And., 419. 
Carpenter, Geo., 103, 368. 
Carpenter, W. W., 104, 465, 

469. 
Carroll, Thos., 515. I 

Carter, I-. C, 51. 50.5. I 

Carter, Nelson, 122, 469. 



Casey, John E., 189, 265, 
I 490. 

I Casey, Maurice, 490. 
[Casey, Gen. Silas, 85, 86, S7, 
i 88, 90, 97. 
icassidy, Jas., 264, 405. 
Caswell, H. K., 505. 
iCate, T. J., 35. 
iCatletfs Station, 151, 225. 
iCatoctin, 211. 
[Cavanaugh, J. H., 369. 
Centerville, 202, 228. 
Chadwick, R. L., 264, 3.53. 
Chain Bridge, 134, 135. 
Chamberlain, C. N., 22. 39, 
j 40, 49, 80, 108, 338. 
Chamberlain, S. T., 505. 
Chambersburg, 203. 
I Ch.\ncellorsville, 179. 
Chancellorsville, 184, 191, 
'. 199, 236. 

Chandler, A., 469, 471. 
Chantilly, 134. 
I Chapel, New, 243. 
Chapin, Chas. O., 17, 64. 
Ichapin, H. M., 188, 433. 
Chapman, D. M., 320. 
Chapman, Judge, 17. 
Charles, John, 369. 
Charles City, C. H., 129, 288. 
Charlottesville, 248. 
Chase, D. M., 15, 22, 109. 

125, 177, 503. 
Chase, E. A., 344. 
Chase, J. B., 263, 264, 419. 
Chauncey, Capt. John, 271. 
Cheney, Geo. F., 4.50. 
Cheney, Geo. S., 296. 
Cheesbro. A., 369. 
Cheeseman, U. H., 450. 
Cherry Run Ford, 144, 145. 
Chesapeake Bay, 29. 
Chester Gap, 215. 
Chickahominv, 106. 
Chickahominy, 83, 84. 83, 

129. 
Childs, F. J., 342. 
Christmas, 240. 
Churchill, Wm. M., 4.50. 
Church organized, 2.53. 
Ciller, New, sweet, 141. 
Clapp, C. A., 450. 
Clapp, T. W., 22. 25, 58, 139. 

402. 
Clapp, Wm. H., 353. 



Index 



523 



Clark, Mrs., 127, 128. 
Clark, A. B., 268, 469, 471 
Clark, A. S., 388. 
Clark, Enoch, 265, 490. 
Clark, F. L., 344. ! 

Clark, F. W., 121, 388. 
Clark, G. C, 353. 
Clark, Geo. E., 505. 
Clark, H. C, 419. 
Clark, J. C, 268, 388. 
Clark, J. P., 388. 
Clark, J. W., 433, 438. 
Clark, L. H., 419. 
Clark, M. H., 103, 433. 
Clark, Steph., 405. 
Clark, W. W., 122, 505. 
Clate, Marshall, 515. 
Clay, Birthplace of Henry, 

282. 
Clear Springs, 143, 145. 
fiiegg, Hiram, 369. 
Cleinence, Jos., .505. 
Clifford, J. H., 22, 25, 484. 
Clough, Edgar, 264, 419. 
Cobb, Gen. Howell, 83, 135. 
Coburn, J. P., 268, 324, 388, 
391. 

Cochrane, C. W., 490. 

Cochrane's Brigade, 156. 

Coddington, J., 354. 

Coggin's Point, 126. 

Colburn, C. D., 354. 

Cold Harbor, 283. 

Cole, Cyrus, 433. 

Cole, J. W., 369. 

Coleman, P. M., 102, 388. 

Coleman, J. S., 469. 

Collamer, E., 405. 

Collier, Anson I., 122, 189, 
505. 

Colhs, R. S., 121, 405. 

Colt, Col. J. D., 17. 

Colt, T. G., 405. 

Colton, N. W., 433. 

Conant, E. P., 268, 469. 

Cone, C. B., 469. 

Cone, W. F., 122. 264. 469. 

Congregationalist, 46. 

Connecticut Troops, 1st. 
H. Arty., 156. 

Conner, Geo., 86, 104, 490. 

Conners, J as., 268, 469. 

Converse, D., 388. 

Converse, H. M., 244, 268, 
322, 385, 491, 497. 



Conway, Wm., 506. 
Cook, A. H., 506. 
Cook, A. S., 491. 
Cook, B. O., 4.50. 
Conway, Wm., 506. 
Cook, A. H., 506. 
Cook, A. S., 491. 
Cook, B. O., 4.50. 
Cook, Geo., 354. 
Cook, J. H., 388. 
Cook, S. B., 268, 405. 
Coolidge, Edward, 103, 450. 
Cooley, O. B., 433. 
Coomes, Elias. 102, 433. 
Coomes, E. P., 268, 433. 
Cooney, John, .506. 
Cooper, F. A., 369. 
Cooper, H. W., 388. 
Cooper Shop, 292. 
Copley, Henry L., 54. 506. 
Copley, Hiram H., 506. 
Corkeiy, M. B., 265, 491. 
Cormick, J., 188, 287, 354. 
Corn captured, 282. 
Cornwell, N. S., 264, 324. 

388. 
Corps Relations, 319. 
Cotrell, M. H., 103, 244, 272, 

402, 404, 405. 
Cotton, S. B., 13. 369. 
Couch, A. F., 188, 354. 
Couch, Gen. D. N.. 32, 37, 

46, 61, 63. 87, 88, 89. 90, 

97, 99, I'll, 104, 124. 150 

181, 299. 
Cousens, G. W., 264, 406. 
Cousens, Wm. H., 286, 366. 

371. 
Crampton's Gap, 213. 
Cratip H. E., 139, 1.59. 430 

433. 
Crawford. Elmer, 419. 
Crawford, Sam., 268, 419. 
Crockett, F. H., 189, 491. 
Cromwell. L. F., 491. 
Cronin, Daniel, 491. 
Crosby, Isaiah, 122, 506. 
Cross, C. W., 320. 
Crossett, Fred, 406. 
Crow, Andrew, 389. 
Crump's Creek, 282. 
Crump Cross Roads, 83. 
Cudney, F., 354. 
Cullen, W. B., 516. 
Culpeper, 233, 247, 251. 



Culpeper Ct. House, 199, 223. 
Culpeper Ford, 235, 239. 
Cummings, Lee, 264, 354. 
Cummings, O., 354. 
Cumminsky, Jas., 369. 
Currier, J. H., 516. 
Currier, J. W., 177, 433. 
Curry, Jas., 406. 
Curtis, J. H., 470. 
Curtis, O.. 354. 
Cushman, J. A., 285, 354, 

355. 
Custer's Cavalry, 247. 
Cutler, C. D., 93, 102, 470. 
Cutler, J. W., 214, 434. 
Cutting, O. E., 284, 3.54. 

Dahlgren's Raid, 247. 

Dailey. Jas. N., 491. 

Daily, J. C. 406. 

Daily, L. L., 103, 434. 

Dalton, Jas., 406. 

Damon, S. C, 434, 438. 

Dana, Jas. J., 132. 

Daniels, G. C, 3.55. 

Daniels, G. H., 419. 

Daniels, H., 389. 

Daniel Web.ster (Steamer), 
64. 

Darby, W. F., 5, 209, 343, 
369, 370, 485. 

Daufen, Henry, 122, 470. 

Davis, A. S., 344. 

Davis, C H., 389. 

Davis, Geo. T., 17. 

Davis, H. R., 268, 406. 

Davis, N. H., 125. 
J Dawley, F. J., 355. 
I Day, Chas. H., 264, 420. 
[Day, E. E., 6, 22, 25, 39, 92, 
■ 95, 100, 102, 299, 447. 

Day, Mrs. E. E., 48, 53. 

Day, J. P., 470. 

Day, John, 264. 
I Day, John T.. 420. 
i Day, Lawrence, 122, 506. 

Day, Lewis, 389. 

Day, Wm. H., 208, 434 
iDeady, Edward, 491. 

Decie, C. H., 122, 189, 265. 
491. 

Decker, J. A., 492. 

Decker, J. M., 6, 7, 11, 17. 
22, 54, 91, 95, 125, 335. 

De Ford, Ben., (Steamer), 
26, 28, 30. 



524 



The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 



Dempsey, J., 355. 

Dennis, E., 355. 

Dennis, L., 188, 355. 

Deon, Major, 369. 

Department Commanders 
319. 

Departure and New Offi 
CERS, 131. 

Desmond, Rich., 492. 

Devens, Gen. Chas., 76, 97 
105, 109, 125, 131, 140 
141, 142, 150, 156, 160 
162. 174, 177, 178, 189 
285. 

Dewey, E. S., 214, 450. 

Dewey, F. W., 451. 

Dewey, Henry, 188, 451. 

Dickinson, Henry, 451. 

Dinneen, Jas.. 189, 268, .506, 

Division Drill, 44. 

Division Relations, 319. 

Dix, Gen. John A., 216. 

"Dixie," 182. 

Dobyns, Thos., 287, 420. 

Dodge, C. S., 121, 389. 

Dodge, H. N., 264, 451. 

Dodge, P. M., 451. 

Doherty, Mich., 470. 

Dole, C. B., 268, 470. 

Donahue, Jas., 420. 

Donelson, Fort, 54, 55. 
Donovan, John (A), 34, 52, 

355. 
Donovan, John, (D), 188, 

406. 
Dorus, Jas., 516. 
Dory, Geo. W., 492, 501. 
Doubleday, Gen. Abner, 176. 
DOWNS^TLLE, 141. 
Downsville, 138, 143, 145, 

146. 
Drake. C. H., 318, 320. 
Drake, C. F., 265, 470, 472. 
Draper, L., 389. 
Draw Clothing, 229. 
Dresser, Geo. N., 434. 
Dresser, Wm. O., 470. 
Drummond, Rev., 11, 17. 
Drunken Surgeon, 260 
Dudley, Chas., 406. 
DufFee, Thos., 268, 406. 
Dumfries, 200. 
Dunbar, Chas., 188, 406. 
Duncan, E. W., 470. 
Duncan, Geo. H., 434. 



Dunn, John, 420. 
Dunnakin, C, 389. 
Dunnakin, H. A., 389. 
Dunphy, E., 188, 264, 420. 
Dwyer, Jas., 369. 
Earle, Wm. W., 434. 
Early, Gen. Jubal, 64, 266. 
Eason, T. W., 470. 
Eaton, L. O., 5, 112, 177 

257, 264, 430. 431, 434. 
Eaton, Wm. H., 492. 
Eccleston, Lieut., 101. 
Eddy, Rev. Dr., 42. 
Edwards, Capt., 218, 222. 
Edwards, C. S., 389. 
Edwards, L. R., 471. 
Edwards, Oliver, 10, 17, 21 
22, 45, 105, 142, 146. 148 
160. 194. 247. 263. 273 
337. 
Edwards, Wm. B., 104, 492. 
Edward's Ferry. 203. 
JEldridge. S. N., 264. 369, 

416. 418. 
Ellis, Chester S., 122. 435. 
Ellis, Geo., 268, 421. 
Ellison's Mills, 113. 
Elmer, Levi, 390. 
Ellsworth, Col. E. E., 30. 
Ely, Mrs. J.. 47. 
Ely, Wm., 390. 
Ely's Ford, 180, 254. 
Emancipation Proclamation, 

163. 
Emerson, J. S., 268, 471. 
Emmitsburg, 211. 
Emmons, Monroe, 406. 
Endicott, L. F., 390. 
Enfield Rifle. 16. 18. 119. 
Ennis, D. D., 435. 
En Route. 29. 
Equipments, 16, 25. 
Estee. S. T., 103. 370. 
Estes. Wm. H., 103. 492. 

497. 
Eustis. Col. H. L.. 6. 133, 
134, 138, 140, 149, 152, 
160, 170, 176. 186, 188, 
192, 206, 223, 224, 233, 
243, 244, 246, 247, 257, 
263, 273, 3.33, 334. 
Eustis's Brigade, 207. 
Evans, C. W.. 390. 
Evans. Geo.. 121, 421. 
Evans, M. W.. 341. 506, 511. 



Evening Prayers. Bright- 
wood, 52. 

Ewell's Corps, 199, 234. 266. 

Excelsior Brigade. 86. 

Express from home. 143. 

Fairchilds. C. 121. 406. 

Fairfax Ct. House. 134, 201, 

Fairfax Seminary. 134. 

Fairfax Station. 201. 228. 

Fairfield. 211. 

Fair Oaks. 86. 

Fair View. 143. 

Falling Waters. 243. 

Falmouth. 195. 

Falmouth. 159. 163. 200. 

Falvey. John. 492. 

Famous dispatch, 265. 

Fargo, A. F., 324. 355. 

Farland, Geo., 516. 

Fast Day, National, 40. 

Fay, Rev., 297. 

Fay, E. W., 102, 471. 
j Ferry, H. L., 492. 

Felton, Sam.. 390. 

Field. A. A.. 451. 

Field, G. W., 471. 

Fiero, F. L., 406. 

Finn, M., 355. 

Finnican, Jas.. 188. 264. 407. 

First Army Corps Merged, 
251. 

Fitz Hugh family. 176. 

Flag presentation. 19. 
Flags, Return of, 299. 517. 
Flanagan, Pat., 492. 
Flood's Battery, 101. 
Fogg, Lucien, 43, 268, 471. 
Foot Cavalry. (6th Corps), 

206. 
Forced March, 205. 
Fort Darling, 109; Ethan 
Allen, 59, 135; Magruder, 
80; Marcy, 59, 62; Mass- 
achusetts, 64; Slocum, 
41; Stevens, 64, 66. 
Fortress Monroe, 66. 
Foster, F. A., 421. 425. 
Foster. W. A. P.. 103. 390. 
Fowle. John. 421. 
Fowler. S. J.. 506. 
Fox. Wm. F.. 4. 
Front Royal. 200. 
Frain. Hugh, 421. 
Franklin, J. A., 268. 471, 
481. 



Index 



5^5 



Franklin, Gen. W. B., 78 
88, 115, 141, 142, 155, 
109. 
Franklin's Crossing, 180, 

183, 196. 
Frederick, 211. 
Fredericksburg, 154. 
Fredericksburg, 66, 151, 181, 
183, 191, 197, 198, 238, 
269. 
Freed, Hiram, 506. 
French, C. P., 356. 
French, H. O., 421. 
French, M. C, 103, 451. 
Fried Cakes, 53. 
Frishie, Cassander, 492. 
Fugherv, C, 356. 
Fuller, B. F., 471. 
Fuller, H. H., 264, 370. 
Fulton, A. W., 370. 
Funkstown, 212, 213. 
Funeral in Camp, First, 38. 
Furloughs, 245. 
Furrow, Geo. F., 506. 
Furrow, Henry, 507. 
Gaddes, Jos., 122, 265, 507. 
Gaffney, John, 343, 370, 421. 
Gage, F. W., 370. 
Gaines' Mills, 113. 
Gainsville, 228. 
Galligan, Peter, 264, 370. 
Gardner, Edward, 102, 407. 
Gardner, N. A., 353, 447. 
Gardner, N. H., 274, 275, 

352, 447, 507. 
Gardner, R. S., 451. 
Garibaldi Guards, 202. 
Garland, Geo. P., 264, 451. 
Gassner, Geo. Jr., 421, 425. 
Gassner, J. C, 421. 
Gates, Chas. A., 298, 356. 
Gates, Emory B., 435. 
Gaylord, Jas., 507. 
Gaynard, Thos. H., 103, 435. 
Gaynor, Thos., 507. 
Geary, H. L., 492. 
Geer, Geo. P., 46. 
Gerraanna Ford, 180, 235, 

254. 
"General" Discouragement, 

163. 
Georgia Troops, 31st., 175. 
Getty, Gen. G. W., 251, 257, 

259, 275. 
Gettysburg, 206. 



Gettysburg, 199, 208. 
Gettsyburg Monument, 320 
Gibbon, Gen. John, 183, 189 
Gibson, Thos., 421. 
Gilbert, Wm. E., 471. 
GilUgan, O. J., 264, 451. 
Gilman, F., 103, 452. 
Gilman, J. H., 209, 340. 
Gilmore, C. A., 343, 356. 
Gilmore, H. G,. 5, 209, 218, 
267, 404, 430, 435, 485. 
Gilmore, Wm. S., 435. 
Ginn, John N., 507. 
Gleason, Chas. F., 435. 
iGleason, T. S., 102, 435. 
Goddard, L. W., 22, 366. 
Goddard, P. M., 356. 
Gofif, John B., 435. 
Goldthwaite, Ida, 108. 
Gonzales, Man., 507. 
Goodale, C. T., 121, 407. 
Goodale, H. W., 435. 
Goodrich, F. M., 390. 
Goodrich, John, 356. 
Gordon, Gen. J. B., 278. 
Gordon, Thos., 390. 
Gorham, H. H., 122, 265 

507. 
Gorman, H. L., 103, 435. 
Gorman, Mich., 264, 471. 
Goro, Lewis, 516. 
Goss, Walter S., 206. 
Gowdy, Chauncey, 286, 452. 
Gragg, Wm. H., 471. 
Graham, John, 507, 516. 
Grand Army Posts, 299. 
Grand Review, 252. 
Grant, Gen. U. S., 54, 210, 

238, 249, 250, 260. 
Graves, E. H., 265, 342, 385, 

390, .503. 
Graves, H. W., 421. 
Graves, Sam., 390. 
Gray, Henry W., 435. 
Gray, Lyman E., 435. 
Great Barrington, 297, 347 
Greek Cross, 189, 190. 
Green, C. E., 36, 449, 452. 
Green, Geo. S., 241, 436. 
Green, I. N., 422. 
Green, Jerry, 188, 407. 
Green, L. R., 264, 371. 
Green, T. R., 297. 
Greenfield, 297. 
Griebel, John, 471. 



Griffin, E. T., 507. 
Griffin, N. N., 407. 
Grout, A. O., 436. 
Grover, Henry, 471. 
Guard shoots man of the 

7th Mass., 51. 
Guilford, M. J., 122, 471. 
Gun-boat Service, 53. 
Guyer, Henry, 103, 390, 391. 
Hager, G. E., 22, 139, 410. 
Hagerstown, 143. 
Haggerty, D., 356. 
Haigis, Jacob, 272, 471, 475. 
Hale, Geo. D. Y., 436. 
Hale, Oscar, 268, 452. 
Hall. Alfred, 371. 
Hall, C. M., 188, 422. 
Hall, J. M., 103, 452. 
Hall, M. H., 344. 
Halleck,Gen.H.W.,154,238. 
Halstead, J. H., 493. 
Hamill, David, 264, 407. 
Hamill, J. J., 422. 
Hamilton, F. D., 356. 
Hamilton, F. R., 345. 
Hamilton, T., 356. 
Hampton, 66. 
Hancock, 144, 145. 
Hancock, Gen. W. S., 70, 71, 

77, 78, 261, 266, 275. 
Hand, S. P., 407. 
Hannigan, J. G., 371. 
Hanson, Geo., 103, 371. 
Harger, G. S., 279, 493. 
Harlow, F. P., 160. 194, 241, 

257, 273. 320. 
Harper's Ferry, 135, 136, 

202. 
Harrington, T. F., 104, 472. 
Harrington, W. H., 371. 
Harris, Chas. F., 493. 
Harris, G. W., 468, 472. 
Harris, H. K., 371. 
Harris, J. W., 214, 264, 391. 
Harris, S. J., 422. 
Harrison, Pres. W. H., 127. 
Harrison's Landing, 122. 
Harrison's Landing, 115,223. 
Hart, Davis, 268, 356. 
Hart, G. L., 356. 
HartweU. C. L., 104, 188, 

288, 493. 
HartweU, F. E., 264, 391. 
Harvey, C. W., 356. 
Harwood. O. S., 264, 371. 



526 



The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 



Haskins, A. A., 1(13. 371. 
Haskins, Wni. K., 345. 
Hastings, Benj., 472. 
Hastings, H. A., 422. 
Hastings, J. G., 473. 
Hastings, J. N., 452. 
Hastings, P. C, 473, 478. 
Hawes, F. B., 103, 436. 
Haxall's Landing, 116, 127. 
Hayden, E. F., 422. 
Hayes, Jas.. 493. 
Hays's Brigade, 202. 
Hazelton, A. J.. 222, 422. 
Hazlett, John, 371. 
Hazlett, Wm., 371. 
Health, Regimental, 40. 48. 
Healy, M. F., 122, 493. 
Hebeit, C, 422. 
Hebert, E., 422. 
Hecox, Jas., 356. 
Hedgesville, 144. 
Heffion, Levi, 407. 
Heintzelman, Gen. S. P.. 88, 

100, 111. 
Hemmenway, A. C, 102, 

407. 
Hemmenway, Har.. 407. 
Hemmenway, Has., 120, 

121, 408. 
Hemmenwa.v, John, 452. 
Hendrick, J. H., 5, 269, 271, 

320, 322, 323. 324, 330, 

431, 436. 
Hendrick, Oren A., 436. 
Henry, A. F., 493. 
Henry, David, 473. 
Henry, "Tim," 21. 
Hermann. John, 104. 268, 

371, 473. 
Herndon's Station, 203. 
Hersey. J. W., 4, 5, 188, 265, 

318, 319, 473, 475, 517. 
Hewett, R., 356. 
Heyward, Jerome, 493. 
Hibbard, G. B., 408. 
Mickey, Chas., 264, 422. 
Hickox, S. W., 264, 371. 
Hill, Gen. .\. P., 199, 257. 
Hill, Gen. I). H., 88, 117. 
Hill's Corps, 234. 
Hill, L. v., 473. 
Hill, Luther, 35. 
Hill, S. B., 371. 
Hillman, Erastus, 436. 
Hillman, F. O., 92, 391. 



Himes, Ezra, 391. 

Hindley, S. H., 4, 214, 320, 
j 322, 473. 
I Hines, H. P., 408. 
j Hines, M. A., 357. 

Hitchcock, L., 264, 422. 

Hoag, W. D., 357, 516. 
i Hock, Carl, 507. 

Hodge, A. W., 34.5. 
I Hodge, William D.. 18, 344, 
{ 345. 
' Hoffmaster, H., 372. 

Hogan. Edwin T., 436. 

Hogan, M. S., 188, 408. 
j Hogan, Wm., 516. 
'Holbrook, Wm., 22, 25, 39, 
I 49, .50, 51, 209, 339. 

Holdridge, G. F., 372. 

Holman, Surg. S. A., 48. 

Holmes, G. H., 324, 357. 
j Holyoke, 298. 
I Home, 293. 

i Hooker, Gen. Jos., 77, 78, 81, 
i 105, 127, 155, 173, 176, 
j 179, 196, 199, 200, 204, 

261. 
■ Hooker, Mrs. J., 47. 

Hooker's order, 182. 
I Hosmer, J. B., 372. 

Hospital Fund, 40. 
i Hospital records. 43. 
1 Hopkins, Erastus, 17. 

Hopkins, W. S. B., 328. 

Horr. Chae. H., 436. 

Hotchkiss. C. D., 472, 474. 
JHoughtailing, C. G., 264, 
I 372. 
i Howard, Geo. H., 474, 483. 

Howard, H. N., 121, 408. 

Howard, J. H., 324, 391. 

Howard, Gen. O. O., 177, 

181, 226. 
I Howe, Gen. A. P., 191, 192, 
i 196, 249. 
i Howe, G. \\\, 392. 

Howe, J. M., 474. 

Howe, Julia Ward, 1.50. 

Howes, C. F., 392. 

Howes, D. G., 104. 474. 

Howes, J. R., 5, 103, 391, 
i 392. 

Howe's Division, 243. 
JHovey, C. E., 104, 187, 188, 
I 494. 
I Howlan<i, J. W., 22, 25, 338. 



Hoxie, D. E., 392, 394. 

^Hubbard, C. H., 372. 

Hubbard, Dwight, 408. 

Hubbard, Geo. F., 474. 

JHubbard, G. S., 372. 

Hubbard, John, 508. 

Hubbard, W. A., 345. 

jHunt, Ehsha, 372. 

iHunt, H. M., 49, 436. 

iHunt, Jared C, 268, 437. 

iHunt, Rev. John, 36. 

Hunt, Josiah C, 437. 

Hunt, R. F.. 264, 372. 

I Hunter, A. W., .508. 

Huot, Peter, 494. 

I Huntington, A. T., 343, 437, 

i 438. 

JHyattstown, 204. 

Hyde, Jas. H., 494. 

JHyde, Oliver, 392, 394. 

jHyde, Philip. 104, 188, 494, 

j 497. 

ilde, Rev. Dr., 18. 

[Illustrations — 

; Flags and Drum, Front.; 
Camp Scene, Brightwood, 
34, 52: Camp Groups, 
Brightwood, 36, 39; Win- 
ter Quarters, Brightwood, 

j 48; Fort Stevens in 1899, 

j 65; Fair Oaks, 107, Sa- 
lem Heights, 187; Marye 
House, 263; Sedgwick 
Monument, 263; Briggs 
Memorial, 304; Gettys- 
burg Monument, 321 ; Reg- 
imental Reunion, West- 
field, 326. 

Indian Springs, 143. 

Ingraham, Albert K.,93, 104, 
345. 

Insects, 73. 

Irish boy and his soup, 98. 

"Iron Man," 254. 

Irvine, Sam., 268, 392. 

Irving, Wm., 103, 408. 

Ives, F. M., 357. 

Ives, H. A., 392. 

Ives, R. O., 17, 22, 25, 130, 
219, 220, 221, 351. 

Ives, Mrs. R. O., 48. 

Jackson, S. K., 437. 

Jackson, Stonewall, 115, 
135, 189, 274. 

Jacob's Ford, 204, 235. 



Index 



527 



James, C. G., 474. 
James, F. M., 392. 
James City, 81, 247. 
James River, 68, 116, 284. 
Jameson, C. D., 102. 
Jameson, Q., 422. 
Jarrold, Thos., 122, 508. 
Jeffers, Chas., 372. 
Jeflferson, Thos., 128, 248. 
Jefts, C. L., 13. 
Jenkins, R., 268, 372. 
Jenne, Wm. L., 103, 408. 
Jersey Brigade, 186, 248, 253. 
Jewett, A. A., 268, 452. 
Jewett, C. E., 373. 
Jewett, Geo., 51, 119, 124, 

153, 340. 
Jewett, J. H., 392, 396. 
Jillson, M., 393. 
"Joe, is my head off?" 271. 
Johnson, E. M., 103, 391, 

393. 
Johnson, Gen. Edward, 266. 
Johnson, E. T., 22, 193, 268, 

503, 504. 
Johnson, John, 408. 
Johnson, S. D., 50, 103, 474. 
Johnson Grays, 363. 
Johnston, J. B., 408. 
Johnston, Gen. Jos. E., 88, 

89, 90, 107. 
Jones, C. A. R., 61. 
Jones, C. H., 373. 
Jones, H. G., 508. 
Jones, H. L., 422. 
Jones, H. M., 188, 437. 
Jones, I. L., 422. 
Jones, J. W., 265, 508. 
Jones, John, 408. 
Jones, Wm. S., 244, 272, 494. 
Joy, E. S., 373. 
Judd, D. O., 188, 265, 318, 

319, 494. 
July 4, 16, 210. 
Justin, G. D., 122, 437. 
Justin, J. M., 104, 495. 
Kalfeur, Carl, 508. 
Kalorama, 30, 40. 
Kaulbach, G. C, 39, 103, 

174, 201, 209, 367, 452. 
Kearney, Gen. Phil., 81, 89, 

93, 102, 123, 134, 228. 
Keenan's Charge, 189. 
Keith, H. A., 22, 139, 338, 

430. 



Keith, Mrs. H. A., 48. 
Kellogg, A. S., 4.53. 
Kellogg, G. S., 264, 408, 410. 
Kellogg, G. W., 393. 
Kelly, Fred., 357. 
Kelly, J. H., 265, 495. 
Kelly, Jos., 495. 
Kelly, Michael, 357. 
Kelly, Patrick, 509. 
Kelly, Wm., 516. 
Kelly's Ford, 173, 176, 231. 
Kendall, F. H., 437. 
Kennedy, Mart., 268, 393. 
Kenney, M. W., 437. 
Kernan, Robert, 202, 357. 
Kettle Run, 227. 
Keyes, Gen. E. D., 45, 55, 61, 

62, 68, 79, 87, 88, 91, 95, 

97, 99, 100, 102, 104, 109, 

111, 114, 124. 
Keyes, O. M., 188, 453. 
Keyes, Wm. D., 268, 437. 
Key West, (Steamer), 133. 
Killelea, L., 357. 
Kilpatrick, Gen. J. C, 227, 

247. 
Kilroy, Jas., 121, 423, 495. 
Kimball, S. B., 373. 
Kimball, S. P., 324. 
King, C. B., 345. 
King, Dr. C. B., 297. 
Kingsley, C. B., 121, 324, 

393, 394. 
Kingsley, P. W., 393. 
Kingsley, W. M., 343, 393, 

394. 
Kirk, H. F., 516. 
Knapp, C. H., 122, 352, 385, 

486, 495. 
Knapp, C. I., 373. 
Knapp, Horace H., 438. 
Knapp, Wm. H., 474. 
Kneeland, E. S., 495. 
Knight, C. L., 189, 509. 
Knight, E. L., 5, 209, 246, 

267, 268, 415, 418, 423, 

447, 448. 
Knight, J. L., 103, 431, 438, 
Knights, Henry, 210, 495. 
Knox, Jas., 79, 93, 139, 159 

177, 352, 353, 495. 
Lakeman, David, 4.53. 
Lamb, C. P., 357. 
Lamb, W. F., 474, 496. 
Lamb, Willard, 265, 474. 



Lane, Wm. T., 409. 
Lanfair, R. W., 373. 
Langstroch, J. T., 474. 
Lantrell, Jas., 409. 
Larkin, T. G., 188, 409. 
Larrabee, J. H., 373. 
Last Scene of All, 519. 
Lathrop, Edwin W., 439. 
Lauder, John, 496. 
Lawrence, M., 4.53. 
Lay, Jas. B., 122, 509. 
Lay, Wm. G., 189, 268, 509, 

511. 
Leach, Forace, 393. 
Leary, Jer., 373. 
Lee, Gen. Fitz Hugh, 173. 
Lee, F. W., 103, 393. 
Lee, Col. H. C, 17. 
Lee, Gen. R. E., 107, 117, 

155, 158, 167, 196, 201, 

227, 234, 260. 
Leland, B. F., 6, 22, 93, 95, 

102, 107, 464. 
Letters, 43, 45, 49, 55, 82, 

97, 194. 
Levy, Wm., 357. 
Lewinsville, 61. 
Lewis, E. T., 509. 
Lewis, Frank, 345. 
Lewis, Miles, 36, 453. 
Lewis, W. J., 423. 
Liddy, Anth., 287, 474. 
Light Division, 184. 
Lilly, Rufus, 474. 
Lincoln, President, 8, 30, 32, 

44, .59, 124, 142, 149, 163, 

173, 324. 
Lincoln's Gettysburg Ad- 
dress, 324. 
Littlefield, J. D., 509. 
Littlejohn, Otis, 168, 496. 
Livermore, L. D., 104, 475. 
Livingston, Jas., 104, 188, 

496. 
Lombard, H. C, 11, 17, 21. 

22, 25, 124, 130, 177, 294, 

326, 429. 
Londergan, J. R., 264, 423. 
Long, Geo., 373. 
Long, Gov. John D., 327. 
Longley, S. W., 297. 
Longley, Z., 453. 
Longstreet, Gen. J. S., 88, 

158, 199, 206, 222,, 234. 
Loomis, Dan., 409. 



528 



The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 



Looniis, Geo.. 496. 501. 
Looinis, .J. A., 32a. 394. 
Loomis, Victor O., 439. 
Loomis, Win. H., 288. 324, 

.509, .511. 
Loppy, Will. H., .510. 
Lortscher, C, 103, 423. 
Louisiana Tigers. 231. 
Louisiana Troops, 5th, 172. 
Lovett, Murray, .510. 
Lovett, Pat., 394. 
Lovettsville, 209. 
Luther, Chas. H., ;510. .514. 
Luther, Daniel, 34.5. 
Luther, H. W., 104. 47.5. 
Luther, J. E., 3.58. 
Lyceum, 244, 246. 
Lyon, H. P.. 47.5. 
Lyon, Thos., 510. 
McAllister, Dan.. 4.39. 
McArthur, Jas., 373. 
McCarter, Col. J. M., 94. 
McCarthy's Battery, 91, 101, 

152, 168. 
McCartney's Battery, 192,' 

196, 197. ! 

McClelian, Gen. G. B., 24, 33, 

37, 40, ,59, 60. 70. 75, 76. 

93, 94, 106, 107, 111, 124. 

127, 137, 142, 149. 215, 

224. 
McClelian, Geo. B.. Jr., 224. 
McClosky, Thos., 510. 
McCoy's Ford, 144. 
McDonald, Jas.. 4.53. 
McElroy. John. 358. 
McFarlane. C. A.. 120, 121, 

423. 
McGee, Hugh, 264, 358. 
Melntire, C. C, 423. 
McMillan, M., 394. 
McNeil, John, 423. 
McWilliams, Ed., 3.58. 
Magee, Nelson, 439. 
Maginley, T.. 103, 373. 375. 
Magrath, L., 103, 122, 439. 
Magruder, Gen. J. B., 67, 

76. 
Maguire, Jos., 496. 
Maine Troops, 6th, 184: 7th. 

70, 271: 11th, 74. 
Mallory, E. J., 121, 3.58. 
Mallory, J. W., 120. 121, 374. 
"Malty," Maj. Parker's 

horse, 166. i 



.Malvern Hill, 116, 127, 220. 

M.\LVERN Hill, 117. 

Manassas, 60. 

Manning, A. A.. 394, 396. 

Mansir, A. S., 338, 352, 3.59, 
404, 464. 

Marcell, Andrew, 265, 510. 

Marcott, Frank, 454. 

Markhani, A. J., 3.58. 

Markham, Wm. A., 272, 476. 

Marsh, Win. R., 22, 92, 95, 
109. .336. 

Marsh, Mrs. W. R., 48. 

Marshall, Capt. E. G., 11, 14, 
26. 

Marshall House, 30. 

Martin, John, 409. 

Marvell, W. C, 188, 4.54. 

Marye's Heights, 155, 1.58, 
184, 189, 191. 

Marye House, 263. 

Mason, F. B., 103, 208, 409. 

Ma.son, Wm. W., 324, 510. 

Massachusetts Troops — 1st 
Cav.,218; 6,35; 7,32,48, 
51,69,81, 84,91, 178, 184, 
186, 190, 194, 231, 284. 
314: 8, 213; 9, 157; 15, 
44. 76. 203: 18. .50, 51: 
20. 44. 200: 21, 9. 157: 
27. 9, 144: 32, 225; 34. 9, 
134: 37. 9. 64, 142, 145, 
147, 160, 186, 194, 208, 
216, 228, 251, 2.58, 284, 
289. 316; 46. 9, 213; 49, 
9: 51, 133, 213; 52, 9; 
56. 2.58. 2.59; 57, 9, 2.59; 
58. 2.59; 59, 2.59. 

Mather. P. F., 122. 454. 

Mather, Wm., 103, 394. 

Mattapony River, 272. 

Matthews. Wm.. 439. 

Matthias Point. 29. 

May Day, 182. 

Maynard, E. E., 374. 

Maynard, Geo. A., 4.54. 

Meacham, Wm. L., 454. 

Mead, Geo. B., 439. 

Meade, Gen. G. G.. 181. 204. 
227. 234, 238. 

Measles, 18. 

Mechanicsville. 113. 

MEDFOKn, 23. 

Megrath. Chris., 188. 4.54. 

Mehan. Win.. 476. 



Merriain, E. S., 20. 

Merriam, J. Q. A., 423. 

Merrick, Mrs. S., 38. 39. 329. 

Meridian Hill, 30. 

Merrill, Lieut., 70. 

Merrill, A. C, 43, 81. 103, 476. 

Merrill, J. F., 104. 476. 

Merrill. J. H., 121, 358. 

Merrill, Jas. L., 476. 

Merrimac, 66. 

Merritt's Division. 245. 

Messenger, Edwin, 454. 

Meyer, C. B., 409. 

Middletown, 212. 

Midgley, A. E., 242, 257, 258, 
264, 464. 476. 

Miles, Col. D. S., 135. 

Millard, R. W., 358. 

Miller. Edmund, 423. 

Miller. Ozro. 6. 22. 25, 40, 43, 
92, 97. 105, 110, 112. 119, 
120, 121, 122. 126. 17S, 
220, 299, 336, 463. 

Miller, Robert, 454. 

Miller's Battery, 101. 

Millett, S., 374. 

MLIlis, C. H., 103. 374. 

Mine Run, 234. 

Mine Run, 237, 238. 

Mitchell, Jas. D., 51. 

Moffatt, M. H., 91, 264, 4.39. 

Monitor, 66, 124. 

Monocacy, 204. 

Monocacy River, 135. 

Monroe, D. F., 97, 104, 476. 

Monrovia, 204. 

Montague, Col. G. L., 230. 

Monticello, 248. 

.Moody, E. F., 395. 

Moody, M. T., 103, 395. 

Moon, John, 374. 

Moore, D. M., 214, .503, 510. 

Moore. Edwin C, 139. 448. 
454. 

Moore, E. T., 265, 510. 

Moore, John, 516. 

Moore, Thos., 265, 510. 

Moran, Patrick, 439. 

Morley, E. M., 409. 

Morris. Jutige, 17. 

Morrissey, Ed.. 3.58. 

Morrissey, John, 476. 

Morrison, B. R.. 454. 

Morrison's Home, Dr.. 180, 
181. 



Index 



529 



TVIorse, Jas. G., 103. 439. 
Morse, Wm. J., .510. 
Morton, Dwight, 39.5. 
Morton, E. C, 472, 476. 
Morton, F. O., 46.5. 476. 
Morton's Ford, 234. 
Mosby, Col. J. S., 228. 
Moseley, Surg. N. R., 48. 
Mosman, M. H., 322. 
Mott's Battery, 73. 
Mt. Vernon, 29, 66. 
Mud Makch, 167. 
Mulford, Maj. J. E., 221. 
Mullet, D. A., 268, 409. 
Mullett, J. S., 409. 
Mullen, Patrick. 440. 
Mungan, Dan., 409. 
Munroe, E. J., 409. 
Munson Hill, 41. 
Munyan, A. E., 6, 246, 267, 
_ 1268, 39.5, 464. 
Murphy, J. J.. 477. 
Murphy, Mich., 47.5, 477. 
Murphy, Pat., 409. 
Murphy, Tim., 409. 
Murphy, Thos., 104, 477. 
Music by the Enemy, 197. 
Muskets, Flint-lock, 71. 
Muster-in, 14, 26. 
Muster-out, 298. 
Naglee, Gen. H. M., 85, 89. 
Nally, E. P., 121, 395. 
Navy Yard, 30. 

Neff, John, 265, 511. 

NeiU, Gen. T. H.. 2.50. 2.59, 

275. 
Neill's Brigade, 211, 2.59, 
284. 

Nelson. Jas., 477. 

Nevin, Col. D. J., 290. 

New Baltimore, 149, 150, 
229. 

New Colors, 215. 

Newcomb, D., 358. 

Newell, J. K., 3, 5, 22, 84, 
90, 104, 118, 132, 139, 150, 
159, 177, 183, 209. 242. 
322, 326, 485. 

Newell, Mrs. J. K., 48. 

Newell, Wm. S., 440. 

Newhouse, A. N. C, 12 
511. 

New Kent Court House, 83 
245. 

Newmarket, 204. 



Newport News. 67. 
Newson, Wm. M., 201, 496. 
Newton. Edwin, 410. 
Newton, F. O.. 496. 
Newton, H. D., 410. 
Newton, Isaac, 358. 
Newton, Gen. John, 1.50, 
157, 160, 173, 174, 190, 
192, 194, 212. 
Newton, John, 516. 
Newton, S. D., 264, 3.59. 
New York City, 228. 
New York Herald, From the, 

101. 
New York Troops, 50th 
Engineers, 85; 27, 212; 
36, 32, 43, 48, 65, 69, 70, 
74. 91, 105, 117, 118, 160, 
172, 183, 184, 185, 189, 
192, 204, 216, 313; 39. 
202; 55, 81, 91; 56, 74; 
62, 42; 65, 84, 85; 77, 
275; 98, 197; 111, 202; 
122, 187; 125, 202; 126, 
202. 
Nichols, C. S., 374. 
Nichols. H. L., 423. 
Nichols. Wilbur, 4.54. 
Nickerson, M. S., 3.59. 
Nims, J. A., 395. 
Nims, Silas, 477. 
Nixon, F. M., 268, 4.54. 
Noble, Henry, 268, 410. 
Noble, J. M., 122, 511. 
Noble, L. P., 395. 
Noble. T. S., 188, 189, 233, 

430, .504, 511. 
Noble, W. W., 440. 
Nolan's Raid, 56. 
Nolan, Samuel, 58. 
Norcott, John, 23. 
Norcross. F. N., 395. 
North Adams. 298. 
North .-Vnua River. 280. 
North Carohna Troops, 5, 

80; 14, 117; 30, 119. 
Northward, 198, 201. 
Nurses, Regimental, 38, 328 
; Nutting, Wm., 4.54. 
Nye, D. B., 188, 496. 
, Nye, Isaac W., 3.59. 
Nye, John W., 3.59. 
, Oakes, O. S., 103, 455. 
Oak Grove. 111. 
O'Brien, John, 268, 423. 



O'Brien, Pat., 188, 359. 

O'Connor, Thos., 516. 

O'Hara, H. J., 121, 423. 

O'Leary, Surg. Chas., 48. 

O'SulIivan, John, 410. 

Officers' baggage, 63. 

Officers Resign, 139. 

Old Brigade, 312. 

Olds, Jas., 359. 

On Picket, 175. 

Orange and Alex. R. R., 249. 

Order No. 4, 9. 

Osborne. H. C, 374. 

Osborne, H. P., 455. 

Otis, Abner D., 496. 

Otis, C. M., 424. 

Ould, Col. Robert, 221. 

Packard, Chas., 411. 

Packard, C. C. 477. 

Packard, L. M., 4.55. 

Paddock, I. S., 268, 424. 

Page. Henry A., 496. 

Palmer, C. G., 411. 

Palmer, Gen. I. N., 109, HI, 
113, 121, 126. 

Pamunkey River, 281. 

Park, F. C, 386, 395. 

Parker, A. B., 188, 197, 449, 
455. 

Parker, D. F., 131, 133, 139. 
140, 145, 152, 164, 166. 

• 186, 194, 205, 208, 242. 
243, 244, 246, 267, 268. 

! 269, 336. 

Parker. G. and T.. 40. 
Parsons, Henry, 104, 477. 

Parsons. Rev. H. M., 10, 17, 

294. 
Parsons, H. W., 395. 
Parsons, J. B., 22, 25, 92, 95, 
103, 122, 127, 130, 135. 

j 164, 194, 208, 209, 243. 

' 244, 245, 2.50, 257, 267; 
Paper before Loyal Le- 
gion, 272; 290, 295, 296, 
299, 307, 308, 324, 326. 
328, 335, 384. 

I Parsons, Mrs. J. B., 48. 
Parsons Eulogy, 307. 
Parsons. J. C 64. 
PauU, O. B., 122, 271, 496. 
Paulus, Nich., 4.55. 
Paymaster, 37, 50, 72, 153, 

218, 233, 242, 251. 
Peabody, G. W., 188, 497. 



530 



The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 



Peach Orchard, 114. 
Peale, C. W., 154. 
Pease, E. S., 395. 
Peasley, C, 359. 
Peck, Gen. J. J., 102. 
Pediculus Corporis, 1 15. 
Peebles, J. M., 511, 512. 
Pelton, A. E., 424. 
Pendleton, G. R., 264. 359. 
Peninsular Campaign, 59. 
Pennock, C. L., 359. 
Pennsylvania Troops, 8th 

Cav., S3; 93d, 94, 101; 

102, 101. 
Perkins, H. E., 272, 512. 
Perkins, Chap. F. B., 233, 

243, 250, 340. 
Perkins, H. E., 272, 512. 
Perkins, Wm. H., 374. 
Perry, Alex., 374. 
Perry, C. W., 411. 
Perry, John, 374. 
Perry, Peter, 374. 
Perry, R. S., 455. 
Pervear, H., 359. 
Pervere, D. C, 359. 



Pervere, R., 268, 359. 

Pervere, Rufus, 359. 

Pervere, R. M., 360. 

Peters, C. A., 360. 

Petersburg, 290. 

Pettis, Amos, 68, 186, 187, 
188, 189, 497. 

Pettit, R. C, 374, 375. 

Phelps, Ellen, 20. 

Phelps, F. B., 297. 

Phelp.s, F. H., 440. 

Philhps, A. C, 207, 424. 

PhiUips, Geo. C, 396. 

Pickets on the Rappahan- 
nock, 165. 

Pickets Charge, 208. 

Pickett's Division, 222. 

Pierce, Annie F., 108. 

Pierce, Chas. P., 455. 

Pierce, E. C, 440. 

Pierce, Geo., 22, 120, 121, 
139, 150, 159, 164, 173, 
217, 246, 272, 447, 449. 

Pierce, Mrs. Geo., 48. 

Pieice, O. W., 264, 411. 

Pike, C. N., 374, 375. 

Pike, J. W., 287, 375. 



Pinney, J. W., 360. 

Pittsfield, 298. 

Plaisted, M. H., 512. 

Pleasanton, Gen. A., 196. 

Plunkett, Sergt., 157. 

Polley, G. F., 242, 291, 341, 
396. 

Poolesville, 135, 203, 204. 

Pooley, J')hn, 268, 455. 

Pond Point, 143. 

Pope, Gen. John, 134. 

Portell, Pat., 375. 

Porter, Alden, 440. 

Porter, B., 17, 22, 94, 415. 

Porter, Gen. F. J., 85, 113. 

Porter, Geo. W., 424. 

Porter, Peter, 424. 

Portrait Groups, 6, 36, 39, 
177, 209, 318, 326, 329, 
339, 345, 355, 357, 370, 
375, 386, 391, 394, 396, 
404, 410, 418, 420, 425, 
431, 438, 442, 449, 453, 
459, 465, 468, 472, 475, 
478, 481, 486, 490, 497, 
504, 508, 511, 514. 



PORTRAITS 



Adams, W. H., 459. 
Anderson, G. W., 420. 
Ashley, W. A., 242, 404. 
Austin, C. L., 475. 
Austin, J. E., 478. 
Averill, L. T., 442. 
Avery, John, 468. 
Bartlett, E. B., 242. 
Bartlett, J. F., 481. 
Beaumont, J. J., 508. 
Bigelow, G. W., 6, 209. 
Bigelow, J. W., 465. 
Billings, G. W., 420. 
Bishop, W. I., 6, 386. 
Black, L. W., 418. 
Bliss, G. S., 36. 
Bowles, R. W., 342. 
Braman, J. H., 36. 
Brewster, C. H., 36, 209, 

326. 
Briggs, F. M., 468. 



Briggs, Col. H. S., 300. 
Brooks, H. F., 453. 
Brown, Wm. H., 318, 37 
Burnham, Geo., 326. 
Card, M. V., 486. 
Carpenter, W. W., 465. 
Chamberlain, C. N., 

339. 
Chandler, A., 481. 
Chase, D. M., 177. 
Clark, A. B., 481. 
Clark, J. W., 438. 
Coburn, J. P., 391. 
Cochrane, C. W., 490. 
Conner, Geo., 490. 
Converse, H. M., 497. 
Cook, J. H., 36. 
Cotrell, A. S., 404. 
Cushman, J. A., 355. 
Currier, J. W., 177. 
Damon, S. C, 438. 



39, 



Darby, W. F., 209, 370. 
Day, E. E., 6. 
Day, L., 36. 
Decker, J. A., 486. 
Decker, J. M., 6. 
Dodge, Wm. D., 345. 
Drake, C. F., 318, 472. 
Eaton, L. O., 177. 
Edwards, Oliver, 339. 
Eldredge, S. N., 418 
Estes. Wm. H., 497. 
Eustis, Col. H. L., 6, 334. 
Evans, M. W., 371. 
Fargo, X. F., 355. 
Foster, F. A., 425. 
Franklin, J. A., 481. 
Gassner, Geo., 425. 
Oilman, J. H., 209. 
Gilmore, H. G., 209, 404. 
Green, C. E., 449. 
Guyer, Henry, 391. 



Index 



531 



Hager. G. E., 410. 
Haigis, J., 475. 
Harrington, F. F., 472. 
Harris, G. W., 468. 
Hastings, B., 472. 
Hastings, P. C, 478. 
Hendricks, J. H., 430. 
Hersey, J. W., 318, 475. 
Holbrook, Wm., 39, 209, 

326, 339. 
Holdridge, G. F., 373. 
Hosmer, D., 36. 
Hotchkiss, C. D., 472. 
Howard, J. H., 391. 
Howes, J. R., 391. 
Hoxie, D. E., 394. 
Hyde, Oliver, 394. 
Hyde, Philip, 497. 
Hunter, A. W., .508. 
Huntington, A. T., 438. 
Jewett, J. H., 396. 
Johnson, E. M., 391. 
Johnson, E. T., .504. 
Judd, D. O., 318, 494. 
Kaulbach, G. C, 209. 
Keith, H. A., 36. 
Kellogg. G. S., 410. 
Killelea, L J., 357. 
Knapp, C. H., 486. 
Kingsley, C. B., 394. 
Kingsley, W. M., 394. 
Knight, E. L., 36, 209, 

418. 
Knight, J. L., 431. 
Knox, Jas., 177. 
Lay, W. G., 511. 
Leland, B. F., 6. 
Lombard, H. C, 177, 326. 
Loomis, W. H., 511. 
Luther, C. H., 514. 



Maginley, T. J., 375. 
Manning., A. A., 396. 
Mansir, A. S., 404. 
Merrick, Mrs. S., 39, 329. 
Midgiey, A. E., 242. 
Miller, Maj. O., 6. 
Morton, E. C, 472. 
Morton, F. O., 465. 
Munyan, A. E., 6. 
Murphy, M., 475. 
Newell, J. K., 177, 326. 
Newton, H. D., 410. 
Noble, T. S., 504. 
Park. F. C, 386. 
Parker, A. B., 449. 
Parker. D. F., 242. 
Parsons, J. B., 209, 308, 

326. 
Peabody, G. W., 497. 
Peebles, J. M., 511. 
Perkins, F. B., 339. 
Pettit, R. C, 375. 
Phillips, G. C, 396. 
Pierce, Geo., 449. 
Pike. C. N., 375. 
Polley, G. F., 242. 
Powers, C. F., 468. 
Putnam, W. A., 242. 
Regan, Wm. O.. 431. 
Remington. L. M., 177. 
Robinson, A. B., 329. 
Rust, A., 36, 391. 
Sackett, C. 514. 
Sauer, And., 478. 
Scott, D. R., 459. 
Scudder, C. B., 357. 
Severance, H. C. 465. 
Shaftoe, Wm., Jr , 410. 
Shaw, A. D., 438. 
Shene, Jas.. 418. 
Sherman. J. A.. 375. 



! Shurtleff, Flavel., 404. 
Smart, E.. 177. 
Smith, G. D., 511. 
Smith, N. W., 565. 
Stanard, W. M.. 357. 
Streeter, Wm., 465. 
Taft, H. L., 4.59. 
Taylor, F. W., 4.59. 
Taylor, H. V., 481. 
Thompson, G. W., 514. 
Tolman. A., 475. 
Tower, H. A., 345. 
Tucker, G. G., 355. 
Turner. J. W.. 420. 
Ufford. C. D.. 431. 
Vincent, M. H., 475. 
Walker, M. P., 310, 318, 

386. 
Walker, J. R., 490. 
Walkley, L. B., 177. 
Wallace, G. S., 418. 
Warren, A. H., 107. 
Warriner, S. C, 425. 
Webster, J. F., 449. 
Wells. C. C. 39. 
Wells, D. W., 370. 
Wheeler, N. F., 442. 
Whipple, S. R., 459. 
Whitmore. C. M., 449. 
Whitney, Edwin, 386. 
Wiggins, H. A., 418. 
Wilcox, D. M., 4.53. 
Wilcox, E. K., 6. 
Williams, A. L., 449. 
Williams, S. S., 36, 386. 
Wilson, J. E., 478. 
Wolcott, Miss H., 39, 329. 
Wood, O. B., 478. 
Woodward, E., 478. 
Wright, F. C, 36. 



Postscript, 297. 
Potomac, 203. 
Potter, Chas., 121, 411. 
Potter, E. F., 455. 
Potter, E. T., 272, 424. 
Potter, F. W., 268, 456. 
Potter, Geo. W., 448, 456. 
Potter, J. W., 456. 
Potter, M. A., 103, 260, 264, 

456. 
Potter, Wm. J., 456. 



Potvin, Chas., 424. 
Powers, C. F., 188, 468, 

477. 
Powers, L. J.. 293. 
Powers, L. S., 14, 345, 

477. 
Powers, Neville N., 103, 360, 

4.56. 
Powers, Rich, 497. 
Prentiss, Geo. L., 456. 
Prentiss, H. B., 396. 



Presby, Chas. H., 440. 
Presentations, 39. 
Preston, Robert, (F.,) 440. 
Preston, Robert. 516. 
Prickett, Jesse, 268, 324. 

424. 
Prospect Hill, 59. 
Prouty, E. F., 396. 
Prouty, H. E., 14, 512. 
Prouty, L. M., 478. 
Prouty, Wm. H., 360. 



532 



The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 



Pryor House, 84. 
Puffer, A. C, 456. 
Pugh, Thos., 188, 360. 
Putnam. Geo. L., 102. 396. 
Putnam, S. L., 188, 440. 
Putnam, W. A., 22, 152, 162, 

166, 169, 242, 416. 
Putney, A. L., 478. 
Putney, N. S., 99, 103, 478. 
Quaker City (Steamer), 29. 
Quaker Guns, 202. 
Quinn, J. W.. 411. 
Rabson, Jas., 512. 
Rafter, Rich., 440. 
Raider, H. M., 512. 
Railroad Guarping, 224. 
Railroads torn up, 280, 282. 
Ramsdell, H. L., 424. 
Ramsdell, Horace, 516. 
Randall, J. M., 411. 
Randall, Levi, 411. 
Rapidan, The, 180, 226. 231. 

234, 253, 254. 
Rappahannock River, 156, 

223. 
Rappahannock Station, 

226. 
Rations, 12, 15. 
Rawson, John, 478. 
Ray, A. J., 346. 
Read, S. B. M., 160, 161, 

162. 
Read, S. W., 188, 265, 497. 
Reardon, Dan., 411. 
Reed, E. P., 222, 250, 512. 
Reenlistment, 240, 241. 
Regan, Wm. O., 431, 440. 
Reilly, John, 188, 264, 375. 
Regimental Roster, 332. 
Reinhardt, Robt., 512. 
Remington, B. F., 440. 
Remington, L. M., 22, 38, i 

39, 139, 159, 177, 447. 
Remington, Mrs. L. M., 48, 

53. 

Reports, Briggs", 94; Dev- 
ens', 160, Sedgwick's,; 
191. 

Republican, Springfield, 15. ! 

Retaliation, 220. 

Reynolds, Geo., 264, 396. 

Reynolds, Gen. J. F., 212. 

"Reviewed by Lincoln," 
173, 174. 



Rhoades, E. B., 479. 
Rhode Island Troops, 2, 32, 

54, 63, 65, 69, 124, 147, 

156, 160, 183, 186, 2.50, 

257, 2.58, 284, 287, 315, 

1st arty., 231. 
Rice, Elizabeth D., 20 
Rice, Luther, 360. 
Rice, S. N., 166, 424. 
Rice, Wm., 456. 
Rice, W. W., 376. 
Rice, Mrs. Wm., 47. 
Richards, R. A., 425. 
Richie, Col. H., 126, 132, 133. 
Richmond, 83, 84, 86, 111, 

228, 234. 
Richmond Examiner, 220. 
Ricketts, Gen. Jas. B., 284. 
Riedel, Jacob, 188, 479. 
Riley, David, 265, 498. 
Riley, Thos., 121, 411. 
Ring, Jos., 360. 
Ripley, Frank, 264, 456. 
Rip-raps, 66. 
Roanoke, 53, 55. 
Roberts, Albert, 102, 376. 
Roberts, Chap. J. L., 244. 
Robbins, Chas. H., 441. 
Robbins, J. E., 456. 
Robbins, R. S., 396. 
Robertson, L. F., 441. 
Robertson 's Tavern, 236. 
Robinson, Albert B., 128, 

339, 340. 
Robinson, Geo., 265, 512. 
Robinson, H. S., 346. 
Robinson, J. C, 376. 
Rochan, Alphonse, 512. 
Rockwell, Hon. F. W., 301, 

328. 
Rockwood, E. R., 104, 456. 
Rodgers, Chas., 396. 
Rodgers, Col. H., 172. 
Rogers, Henry H., 441. 
Rooster-fight, 240. 
Ross, J. H., 54, 411. 
Ross, Levi, 214, 416, 441. 
Roth, C. L., 264, 411. ' 

Rouse, A. W., 376. 
Rowell, D. M., 512. 
Roy, Augustus, 103, 441. 
Rus.sell, C. O., 23. 
Russell, Chas., 265, 479. 
Russell, C. W., 264, 479, 
483. 



Russell, Gen. D. A., 23U 

249. 263, 279, 284. 
Russell, Pat., 498. 
Russell, Wm.. Jr., 156. 
Russian Naval Officers, 240. 
Rust, Alvin, 324, 391, 397. 
Ryan, K., 324, 360. 
Ryan, Rich., 268, 411. 
Ryther, C. W., 457. 
Ryther, Wm. E., 188, 457. 
Sackett, A. F., 441. 
Sackett, Cornel., 324, 512, 

514. 
Salem Church, 190. 
Salem Heights, 186, 187, 

191, 192. 
Salem Heights or Church, 

184. 
Sanders, John, 360. 
Sandford, M. S., 376. 
Sandusky, Ohio, 243. 
Sargent, Theo., 4, 53, 147, 

158, 207, 222, 265, 513.. 
Sauer, .\nd., 478, 479. 
Savage, R., 376. 
Savage Station, 113. 
Savory. T. G., 21. 
Sawyer, E. O., 36, 457. 
Sawyer, L. L., 412. 
Sawin, Wm. J., 441. 
Saxton, Bell C, 20. 
Scare orders, 41, 44, 55. 
Scott, .'Albert, 516. 
Scott, D. R., 457, 459. 
Scott, F. A., 457. 
Scott, Geo. M., 498. 
Scott, J. L., 425. 
Scott, L. H., 122, 457. 
Scott, Wm. H., 188, 264,. 

458. 
Schouler, .\d'j't. Gen. Wm.,. 

Schumaker, 63. 
Scudder, C. B., 264, 357, 360. 
Seaver, Jas. E., 51. 
Sedgwick, Gen. John, 169, 

173, 174, 189, 191, 193, 

195, 196, 200, 206, 211. 

213, 219, 233, 237, 247;. 

killed, 262. 
Sedgwick Monument, 263. 
Seifert, .\ugust, 498. 
Seven Pines, 85, 119. 
Seven Days' Fight, 110- 



Index 



533 



Severance, H. C, 465, 479. 

Seward, Wm. H., 8. 

Seymour, Gen. T., 259. | 

Shaftoe, Wm., 376, 410, 412. 

Shaler's Brigade, 207, 231. 
243. 

Shannon, Thos., 264, 425. 

Sharpsburg, 137. 

Sharps-rifle, 100. 

Shaw, A. D., 438, 441. 

Shaw, Chas. H., 264, 412. \ 

Shaw, J. M., 412. 

Shay, D. D., 103, 498. 

Shay, Dennis, 397. 

Shea, Peter, 498. 

Sheehan, John, 479. 

Shehan, Tim., 425. 

Sheehey, Rob't., 264, 397. 

Shene, Jas., 418, 425. 

Shelburne Falls, 297. 
-Sheldon, A. C 479. 

Sheldon, J. W.. 264, 376. 

Shenandoah Valley, 200. 

Sheridan, Gen. P. H., 284. 

Sherman, E. E., 214, 376. 

Sherman, G. H., 376. 

Sherman, J. A., 103, 375, 
376. 

Short, Wm., 361. 

Shultes, Geo., 361. 

Shumway, D. K., 397. 

Shumway, R. K., 441. 

Shurtleff, Flavel, 22, 120, 
122, 188, 189, 246, 2.59, 
338, 352, 385, 404, 464. 

Shurtleff, Mrs. F., 48. 

Shurtleff, Wm. S., 21, 294. 

Sibley, R. A., .50. 

Sibley, T. A.. 458. 

Sickles, Gen. D. E., 181. 

Silkworth. M., 377. 

Simonds, N. H., 458. 

Simons, Wolfe, 441. 

Sinotte, John, 377. 

Skelton, Martha, 128. 

Skidmore, W. J., 264, 425. 

Skinner, John F., 442. 
Slate, M. F., 516. 
Slatterly, Wm., 377. 
Slocum, Gen. H. W., 135 

181, 226. 
Small Pox, 49. 
Smart, E., 22, 25, 84, 92, 95 

102, 106, 177, 366. 
Smith, Albert, 264, 458. 



Smith, A. C, 104, 498. ! 

Smith, Algernon S., 498. 
Smith, Chas. A., 513. 
Smith, Dan., Jr., 104, 458. 
Smith, E. P., 265, 498. \ 

Smith, F. B., 397. 
Smith, Geo. F., 323. 
Smith, G. D., 511, 513. 
Smith, Gen. G. W'.. 87. 
Smith, H. P., 104, 265, 499. 
Smith, J. W., 412. 
Smith, L., 397. 
Smith, Luther, 499. 
Smith, N. W., 465, 479. 
Smith, Peter, 121, 361. 
Smith, S. P., 231, 499. 
: Smith, W. B., 103, 412. 
Smith, W. M., 377. 
Smith, Wm. E., 499. 
Smith, Gen. Wm. F., 67, 68, 
78, 135, 157, 170, 284, 
290. 
; Smith. Wm. H., (E), 426. 
Smith, WiUiam H., (I), 104, 

499. 
Smith, Wm. L., 17. 
Smith, Wm. R., 104, 458. 
Smith, Wm. S., 499. 
Smoky Hill. 154. 
Snow, Albert, 513. 
Snow, Henry B., 442. 
Snow, John E.. 499. 

Snow. L. A., 479, 483. 

Solomon, Henry, 513. 

Solomon, John, 265, 513. 

Solon, Jas., 412. 

South Carolina Troops, 5, 
165. 

Southward, 211. 

Southworth, Edward, 64. 

Southworth, Wells, 64. 
j Sparks, J. H., 513. 

Spaulding, S. R., (Steamer), 

26, 28, 30. 
jSpellman. C. E., 426. 

Spencer, 298. 

Spencer recruits, 14. 

Spooner, H. A., 103, 480. 

Spottsylvania, 2.56. 

Spottsylvania, 261. 

Spottswood, Alex., 256. 
.Sprague, Sam., 513. 

Springfield, 7. 



Springfield Republican, 46, 
48, 49, 146, 164, 174, 
342. 
Squires, J. C, 38, 499. 
Squires, J. E., 426. 
Stafford, Ct. H., 151, 198. 
Stafford, J. W., 377. 
Stall, F., 397. 
Stanard, W. M., 357, 361. 
Stanley, E. H., 397. 
Stanton, E. M., 60, 149. 
Stedman, E. C, 89, 90. 
Stedman. O.. 361. 
Stempel, .\dolph, 480. 
Stevens, E. ()., 480. 
Stevens, Gen. I. I., 37, 134, 
• 228. 

! Stevenson, T. B., 361. 
Stewart, B. A.. 246, 346. 
Stewart, E. W., 346. 
Stewart, H. C, 346. 
Stewart, J. V., 346. 
Stewart, Gen. J. W., 266. 
1 Stewart, R. J., 103, 499. 
Stiles, A. N., 517. 
Stiles, C. H., 513. 
Stillings, N., 377. 
Stockbridge, L., 412. 
Stone, C. W., 480. 
jStoneman, Gen. G. D., 79, 
1 175, 176. 
jStowe, Jas. M., 442. 
{stratton, G. F., 104.480. 
iStratton, S. W., 458. 
IStreeter, Lorenzo, 517. 
;Streeter, Wm., 104, 244, 366, 
464, 465, 480. 

Strickland, G. G., 122, 442. 

Strong, Geo., 397. 

Strong, Wm. L., 397. 

Stuart, Gen. J. E. B., 79, 
144, 200, 227, 249. 

Sullivan, Jer., 499. 

Sullivan, John, 499. 

Sullivan, Mich., 499. 

Sumner, Gen. E. V., 89, 105, 
111, 150, 155, 163, 169. 

Suraner, A., 361. 

Surgeon's Tent, Bright- 
wood, 39. 

Sutler's departure, 252. 
I Sutler raided, 151. 

Swan, Adam, 324, 513. 
ISwinton, Wm., 115, 157, 

i 193, 238, 255, 286. 



534 



The Tenth Massachusetts Infantry 



Sword for Gen. Eustis, 246. 
Table of Aggregates, 519. 
Taft, H. L., 458. 
Talbot. G. W., 268, 426. 
Tanner, E. W., 458. 
Tanner, Wm. N., 499. 
Target Shoot, 252. 
Taylor, F. W., 458. 
Taylor, J., 144, 361. 
Taylor, H. V.. 480, 481. 
Taylor, R., 103, 397. 
Teaser (Gunboat), 68, 75, 76, 

124. 
Templeman, J. W., 264, 426. 
Tenth and her Colors, The, 

330. 
Tenth MiUtia, 7, 8, 10. 
Terry, Gen. H. D., 219, 237, 

241, 243. 
Thanksgiving, 45, 152, 233. 
Thayer, Geo. L., 397. 
Thayer, Josiah, 188, 397. 
Thayer, M. H., 397. 
Third Army Corps Merged, 

251. 
Three Hundred Fighting 

Regiments, 4, 9. 
Thompson, C. H., 426. 
Thompson, C. W., 263, 268, 

426. 
Thompson, G. W., (E). 426. 
Thompson, G. W., (K), 122, 

265, 514. 
Thompson, Col. J. M., 19, 20. 
Thompson, Wm., 426. 
Tiffany, Rev. — , 21. 
Timothy, Mich., 412. 
Tinkham, A. H., 426. 
Tinkham, .los. A., 122, 514. 
Titcomb, Wm. P., 442. 
Titus, L. M., 361. 
Titus, Col. Silas, 187. 
Tobin, John, 500. 
Todd, A. E., 459. 
Todd's Tavern, 260. 
Tolman, A., 475, 480. 
"Tommy," Major Parker's 

Horse, 145, 269, 278. 
Toomey, Edm., 514. 
Top rail, 204. 
Torbert, Col., 161. 
Tourtelotte, J. E., 442. 
Tower, C. F., 188, 500. 
Tower, H. A., 4, 5. 345, 346. 
Towle, J. H., 377. 



Trainer, John, 265, 514. 
Trask, C. A., 4.59. 
Trask, Eliphalet, 19, 21. 
Traver, S. C, 22, 139, 367, 

366. 
Traver, Mrs. S. C, 48. 
Tree cut down by bullets 

267. 
Trudeau, Nap., 104, 287 

497, 500. 
Tubbs, J. B., 361. 
Tucker, Geo. G.. 121, 355 

361. 
Turkey Bend, 288. 
Turner, A., 361. 
Turner, C. R., 426. 
Turner, J. W., 188. 420. 
Turner, Wm. J., 426. 
Tuttle, .Jas., 398. 
Tyler, D. W., 412. 
Tyler, Pres. John, 288. 
Tyler, M. M., 514. 
Tyrell, Alonzo, 514. 
Ufford. C. D.. 431. 442. 
lingerer. Jos.. 231, .500. 
Uniforms, 54. 
Upton, Gen. Emory, 263, 

276. 
Upton, Geo. E., 480. 
Utley, H. C, 104, 480. 
Vaille, V. L.. 500. 
Van Horn. Alfred, 398. 
Van Valkenburgh, C, 377. 
Veber, E. E., 104, 481. 
Veber, Geo. A., 102. 481. 
Veteran Organiitation, 325. 
Vermont Troops. 1. 73; 3, 

270. 
Vetter, Jacob, 413. 
Viall, Nelson, 124. 
Viall, Wm. G.. 347. 
Vickery. M. D.. 413. 
Videtto. Wm. H., 413. 
Vincent, D. M., 482. 
Vincent, M. H., 122, 252. 

268. 324, 475. 482. 
Vincent. Wm. T.. 482. 
Virginia Troops. 24, 80. 
Wadge, Jos., 515. 
Wadsworth, Gen. J. S., 181. 
Wait, M. M., 264. 4.59. 
Walcott. Jas. M., 500. 
Walker, Andrew. 413. 
Walker, Eph., 377. 
Walker, Geo., 44, 146. 



Walker, F., 188, 377. 
Walker, J. H., 268, 377. 
Walker, J. R., 268, 490, 500. 
Walker, M. P., 5, 26. 93, 94, 

150, 269, 296, 297, 307. 

310, 318, 319, 327, 328, 

386, 398. 
Walkley, L. B., 22, 25. 125, 

177, .502. 
Walkley, Mrs. L. B., 48, .50. 
Wallace, G. S., 418, 427. 
Wallace, J. W., 264, 378. 
Wallace, John. 188. 378. 
Wallace, Thos., 265, 515. 
Wallace, Wm., 362. 
Walsh, Jas., 188, 268, 427. 
Walsh, Col. "Paddy," 185. 
Ward, Ansel H., 500. 
Ward, J. B., 413. 
Ward, J. F., 50. 
Ward, Capt. J. H.. 29. 
Warner, Geo., 362. 
Warner, Geo. O., 482. 
Warner, H. A., 398. 
Warner, J. D., 343, 398. 
Warner, Jas. M., 482. 
Warner, John, 413. 
Warner, Oliver, 44. 
Warren, A. H., 107, 482. 
Warren, Gen. G. K., 237, 

238. 
Warrenton, 216. 
Warrenton, 149, 215, 218, 

222 223 229. 
Warrillow, Wm., 268, 427. 
Warriner, S. C, 5, 425, 427. 
Warwick, C. H., 69, 71. 
Washburn, Lieut. E., 162. 
Washington (D. C), 269. 
Washington, Lieut., 89. 
Washington, Gen. Geo., 29, 

154. 
Washington's birthday, 54, 

171, 247. 
Washington Farm, 176. 
Watchman and Reflector, 

46. 
Watery Mt., 222, 230. 
Watson, T. J., 443. 
Wayles, John, 128. 
Webb, Gen. A. S., 110. 
Webber, E. D., 443. 
Webster, J. F., 104, 449. 460. 
Welch. Thos.. 462. 
Wells, Judge, 17, 169. 



Index 



535 



Wells, C. C, 39, 343. 
Wells, D. W., 140, 366, 370, 

378. 
Wells, Geo. C, 398. 
Wells, Geo. W., 460. 
Wells, S. W., 378. 
Westfield, 298. 
Westminster, 204. 
Wetherbee, Jas., 264, 413. 
Wetherell, J. H., 22, 214, 

242, 246, 267, 268, 385. 
Wheaton, Gen. Frank, 151, 

160, 174. 
Wheaton's Brigade, 241, 

243, 251, 270, 271, 290. 
Wheeler, A. G., 347. 
Wheeler, Chas., 22, 121, 140, 

338, 402. 
Wheeler, H. S., 515. 
Wheeler, J. W., 413. 
Wheeler, N. F., 442, 443. 
Wheeler, Wm., 362. 
Wheelock, G. A., 460. 
Whipple, S. R., 36, 459, 460. 
Whiskey rations, 43, 62. 
White, F. M., 102, 398. 
White House Landing, 86. 
White Oak Church, 164. 
White Oak Swamp, 115. 
White Sulphur Springs, 216, 
222, 227. 

Whitmore, C. M., 103, 460. 

Whitmore, G. A., 460. 

Whittaker, J. W., 515. 

Whittemore, C. M., 449. 

Whittlesey, E. B., 341, 342 
402. 

Whitney, Geo. A., 443. 

Whitney, E. M., 93, 103, 272 
385, 398. 

Whitney, John, 399. 

Wickersham, B. F., 264, 443 

Wicket, Game of, 252. 

Wiggins, F. H. B., 427. 



Wiggins, H. A., 264, 418, 

427. 
Wilbur, Jer., 378. 
Wilbur, J. W., 461. 
Wilcox, D. M., 264, 453, 461. 
Wilcox, E. K., 6, 299, 341. 
Wilcox, H. L., 22, 352. 
Wilcox, O. W., 240. 
Wilcox's Landing, 289. 
Wilderness, 253. 
Wiley, C. C, 264, 378. 
Wiley, Frank, 399. 
Wiley, N. O., 399. 
Wiley, Silas, 378. 
Willey, L. F., .500. 
Williams, Adj. Gen., 85. 
Williams, Anias, 362. 
Williams, A. G., 362. 
Williams, A. L., 36, 449 

461. 
Williams, C. P., 517. 

Williams, F., 188, 268, 461. 

Williams. Jas. M., 122, 482 

Williams, John, 122, 517. 

Williams, T. F., 36, 461. 

Williams, P. W., 428. 

Williams, S. P., 378. 

Williams, S. S., 103, 324, 
386, 399. 

William and Mary College, 
81. 

Williamsburg, 76, 77, 78, 81, 
88, 119, 129. 

Williamsport, 138, 143, 145, 
213. 

Willis, Wm. E., 482, 483. 

Williston, J. R., 428. 

Wilsea, B. M., 399. 

Wilsey, Buel G., 378. 

Wilson, Edwin C, 443. 

Wilson, G. W., 482. 

Wilson, Senator Henry, 212 

Wilson, J. E., 267, 478, 482 

Winn, Jos. A., 54, 501 



Winslow, S. M., 263, 428. 
Winter, Wm. F., 291, 443. 
Winter Quarters, 239. 
Wiscon.sin Troops, 5, 70. 
Wistar, Gen. I. J., 245. 
Wistar'.s Raid, 244. 
Witherell, Albert, 428. 
Witherell, David, 517. 
Wolcott, Miss H., 38, 39, 

329. 
Wolcott, Gen. Roger, 330. 
Wolf Run Ford, 201. 
Wolfe, Simons, 443. 
Wood, Edwin E., 461. 
Wood, O. B., 188, 478, 482. 
Wood, Pliny, 15. 
Woodman, H. N., 428. 
Woods, R. M., 515. 
Woodward, C. J., 22. 109. 

464. 
Woodward, E., 478, 483. 
Woodward, H., 362. 
Woodward, M. M., 104, 483. 
Worth, J. D., 347. 
Worthington, J. M., 515. 
Worthington, W. R., 265, 

.501. 
Worthy, Cyrus, 23. 
Wright, Geo., A., 461. 
Wright, Geo. E., 443. 
Wright, G. T., 104. 264, 461. 
Wright, F. C, 399. 
Wright, Jasper, 413. 
Wright, Gen. H. G., 213. 

223, 263. 
Wyatt, D. H., 443. 
Yaw, Wallace, 378. 
York River, 130. 
Yorktown, 76. 
YORKTOWN, 129. 
Young, Capt., 188. 
Young. John B., 5, 515. 
.| Young's House, 75, 76. 
Zion's Herald, 46. 



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